Rep. Bill Spearman

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill temporarily increases the state child tax credit for residents with taxable income of $80,000 or less during the years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The legislation raises the credit amount for each child under the age of six, providing a $250 increase for families earning $30,000 or less and smaller increments for those earning up to $80,000. After these three years, the credit amounts will revert to their previous levels. The change applies to all filing statuses and allows the credit to be fully refunded if it exceeds the tax owed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows dual-use solar facilities, such as those on landfills or brownfields, to join New Jersey's community solar program, enabling customers to receive bill credits from remotely located solar projects. It requires the Board of Public Utilities to establish rules for a pilot program that sets project size limits, geographic restrictions, minimum participant numbers, and standards for protecting low and moderate income customers. The legislation also mandates that utilities can recover implementation costs and outlines a path to convert the pilot into a permanent program with specific capacity goals by 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies protections for patients and providers accessing or offering legally permitted reproductive and gender-affirming health care in New Jersey. It prohibits obstructing or intimidating individuals at facilities providing these services - including blocking entrances, causing reasonable fear of harm, or threatening violence. The law defines "legally protected health care activity" to cover all such services lawful in New Jersey, regardless of a patient’s location, and applies to both in-state residents and out-of-state patients seeking care here. It expands existing safeguards by explicitly banning physical obstructions and threats at facilities offering these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a web-based tool and mobile app to help residents meet new work requirements for NJ FamilyCare and SNAP programs. It directs DHS to partner with the Governor's Office of Volunteerism to build a searchable database of approved volunteer opportunities that count toward the 80-hour monthly community service requirement for NJ FamilyCare (affecting 1.8 million recipients) and expanded SNAP work rules (affecting 425,000 households). The system will allow beneficiaries to find, register for, and document volunteer hours online, with annual audits to verify compliance. The law aims to prevent beneficiaries from losing coverage due to administrative hurdles under federal changes to these safety-net programs.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A-2159 requires parties in civil lawsuits to disclose third-party litigation funding agreements to the court and all parties at the time of filing or when the agreement is made. It defines "litigation funders" (excluding family, attorneys, banks, and nonprofits) and imposes fiduciary duties on them, banning funders from influencing case decisions or charging fees exceeding 25% of settlement/judgment amounts. The bill also prohibits funders from offering legal advice, securing waived damages, or assigning funding agreements, and makes violations unenforceable. This applies to all civil actions (excluding workers' compensation) and aims to increase transparency in funding arrangements for lawsuits. The bill is pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's community solar program to allow "dual-use" solar facilities - those combining solar panels with ongoing agricultural production on farmland - to participate. It sets a 5-megawatt maximum per project, requires at least two participating customers, and mandates access for low- and moderate-income residents. The law also establishes phased registration goals (225 MW by 2024, then 3,000 MW total by 2029) and requires monthly reporting on energy generation and bill credits. This directly affects electric utility customers in New Jersey who can now access community solar projects on farmland, with specific protections for low-income participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a mandatory licensing system for general contractors in New Jersey, requiring all individuals or businesses classified under trades 006, 007, 008, or 009 (as defined by the state Treasury Department) to obtain a license. It creates the New Jersey State Board of General Contractors to set licensure standards, review applications, administer exams, and manage renewals, with six board members required to have at least 10 years of contracting experience. To qualify, applicants must meet one of three pathways: complete a construction degree with field experience, complete a state-approved apprenticeship with four years of supervised work, or demonstrate five years of field experience under a licensed contractor. The law prohibits unlicensed practice, mandates license display at job sites, and includes grandfathering for contractors with 10+ years of experience prior to the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey law to allow soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors on their leadership teams. Currently, districts are limited to exactly five supervisors appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee. The bill authorizes the State Soil Conservation Committee to set the maximum number of supervisors for each district, replacing the fixed limit. This change directly affects local soil conservation districts and their governance structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health clubs in New Jersey to provide written contracts that clearly state the total payment obligation upfront and disclose any security (like bonds or deposits) held to protect members. It limits health club service contracts to a maximum of three years and gives buyers a three-day window to cancel contracts without penalty by phone, mail, or online. If canceled within this period, members must receive a full refund within 30 days. The bill also mandates that contracts include specific cancellation notices in bold type, detailing how to cancel and the refund timeline.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires social media platforms with significant user activity in New Jersey to display prominent warning labels about mental health risks during account sign-up and when users access certain features. It specifically targets platforms that allow social interaction (like profile creation and content sharing) and directly affects minors under 18, as defined by the bill. The warnings must highlight risks identified by the U.S. Surgeon General, including links between heavy social media use and increased depression, anxiety, and sleep disruption in youth. Platforms must comply with these labeling requirements to inform users and families about potential harms. The bill does not impose additional restrictions beyond the warning labels.