Asm. Bill Spearman

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state-funded transportation projects (like roads or bridges) to use geotechnical engineers to determine necessary soil, groundwater, and structural monitoring. It mandates groundwater testing before construction begins and ongoing monitoring if site conditions require it (capped at three years), plus deformation monitoring during and after construction if needed. The Department of Transportation must follow all internal standards for subsurface data and cannot waive these requirements without approval. This directly affects state agencies and contractors managing transportation projects funded by New Jersey resources, including the Transportation Trust Fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retail theft offenses based on the value of stolen goods, with shoplifting over $500 becoming a third-degree crime. It creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales) and upgrades penalties for "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime. The bill establishes a retail theft unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, and includes new requirements for gift card retailers to prevent fraud through packaging standards and third-party reseller record-keeping. It also creates extended prison terms for repeat retail theft offenders and increases penalties for tax evasion related to retail theft.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a statewide assessment of packaging recycling, composting, and reuse systems by hiring a consultant and establishing a temporary advisory council. It appropriates $500,000 to fund the assessment, which must examine current recycling rates, infrastructure needs, environmental justice considerations, and strategies to achieve optimal recycling rates by 2035 for materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal. The DEP will select a consultant by January 2026, with the consultant submitting a draft assessment to the advisory council by December 2026. The advisory council, representing diverse stakeholders including haulers, local governments, and environmental organizations, will provide input before the final assessment is submitted to the Governor and Legislature by May 2027. The final report will include recommendations for improving New Jersey's packaging recycling system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to create a loan program helping beginning farmers purchase essential farming capital like land, farm buildings, and equipment. Beginning farmers are defined as New Jersey residents with low or moderate net worth who are actively farming or planning to start farming. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria including New Jersey residency, property location within the state, relevant farming experience, and plans for active farm operation. Loans would be issued by NJEDA with terms and interest rates set by the agency, and borrowers may need to provide financial statements to ensure business viability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to prioritize projects that include or allow for flood mitigation when funding land acquisition for recreation and conservation (known as "Blue Acres" projects) and certain environmental infrastructure projects. It mandates that these projects receive additional priority points in the ranking system used to determine which projects get funded through the Green Acres Program and environmental infrastructure programs. The change affects local governments, nonprofit organizations, and others applying for DEP funding for projects that protect against flooding while serving recreation, conservation, or infrastructure needs. The bill implements this by amending existing laws to require the DEP to factor flood mitigation into its evaluation criteria for funding applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to include potential impacts on natural resources when classifying dams by hazard level. Currently, dams are classified based on risk of loss of life and property damage; this bill adds impacts to wildlife, fish, aquatic life, habitats, plants, and historic/archaeological resources as a required factor. The DEP must consider these natural resource impacts alongside existing criteria when adopting its dam hazard classification system. This change applies to all dams subject to the state's dam safety inspection program, directly affecting how the DEP evaluates and regulates dam safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-member Responsible Animal Breeding Working Group within New Jersey's Department of Agriculture. The group will develop recommendations to ensure animal breeders and pet stores verify purebred animals are responsibly bred, eliminate unethical breeding practices, and create a plan for ethical breeding standards across the state. Membership includes representatives from organizations like the American Kennel Club, New Jersey Farm Bureau, and an independent animal rights group, appointed by the Agriculture and Health Secretaries. The working group must submit its final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year, after which the group will cease to exist.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey public school districts from denying students admittance due to tardiness or violations of dress code or school uniform policies. It directly affects all students in New Jersey public schools by ensuring they cannot be barred from entering school for these specific reasons. The law amends existing statute to explicitly state that such denials are not permitted, except as allowed under a school's adopted dress code policy (as outlined in prior law). Schools retain the ability to enforce other disciplinary measures under their standard student conduct policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" within the Department of Transportation, consisting of 13 state agency representatives (including Transportation, Health, and Public Safety officials). The commission’s primary duty is to develop a statewide action plan by 2040 aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries through engineering, education, and enforcement strategies focused on equitable road safety for all users. Key mechanisms include creating a public data portal for crash statistics, requiring annual public hearings and reports to the Governor and Legislature, and advising on policy changes to support safer transportation infrastructure. The commission must adopt its action plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date and host public feedback sessions before finalizing it. This is a procedural bill creating a study body, not a direct policy change.