Asm. Bill Spearman

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to develop a uniform basic police training curriculum for all entry-level officer training. The Attorney General must create this curriculum in consultation with the Police Training Commission, which will then implement it at every approved police training school across the state. The Attorney General must review and update the curriculum annually. The bill also defines key terms: a "basic course" refers to initial training for police recruits, and an "approved school" means a training facility authorized by the Commission.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies and procurement directors to make a good faith effort to increase contracts awarded to certified minority- and women-owned businesses for purchases not requiring public bidding (typically under $250,000). It sets a specific goal of achieving a 30% aggregate increase in these contracts within five years of the bill's effective date. To meet this, state agencies must submit monthly reports to the State Treasurer detailing their efforts, while the Treasurer develops implementation guidelines and submits biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature on progress. The bill directly affects state agencies handling procurement, the Division of Purchase and Property, and the Division of Property Management and Construction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Treasury to update the state's Disparity Study every five years, starting January 1, 2029. The updates must track changes in how often small, minority-owned, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses secure state government contracts. The study, originally completed in 2024, directly affects state procurement policies and these business categories. This ensures regular assessment of opportunities for underrepresented businesses in state contracting.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "sheltered market program" allowing New Jersey state agencies to reserve certain contracts for certified businesses including minority-owned, women-owned, disabled veterans' businesses, LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and other economically or socially disadvantaged enterprises. State agencies must seek approval from the Chief Diversity Officer to designate contracts for this program, using criteria like historical underutilization of certified businesses. The program requires agencies to publish designated contracts online, conduct outreach to eligible businesses, and submit annual reports tracking contract awards and performance. Contracts under the program cannot exceed three years, and prime contractors must make good-faith efforts to offer subcontracting opportunities to qualified businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's law prohibiting feeding black bears by replacing the previous "unintentional feeding" exemption with specific, allowed activities. It permits certain actions without penalty, including agricultural operations (with food stored properly), bird feeders maintained under strict conditions (e.g., 10-foot height, nightly emptying), animal shelters feeding pets (with uneaten food removed nightly), and government wildlife management. The law also changes where civil penalties for violations go, directing collected fines to the local municipality instead of the Division of Fish and Wildlife. It directly affects residents, farmers, and pet owners in bear-prone areas by clarifying permitted feeding practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends temporary flexibility for businesses receiving state tax credits under economic development programs. It allows eligible businesses to reduce the required time employees spend at their facility (from 60% to 50% or 40%, depending on location) for tax periods ending March 31, 2024, and requires them to make payments (5% for 2022 credits, 20% for future credits) to fund small business support. The funds must be used within 12 months for downtown activation or small business financing in designated areas, with annual reports to the legislature. The bill applies to businesses with existing tax credit agreements that entered into incentive agreements before April 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryS 2792 appropriates $500,000 from two state funds - $200,000 from constitutionally dedicated business tax revenues and $300,000 from the 2009 Farmland Preservation Fund - to the State Agriculture Development Committee. This funding provides a $500,000 grant to Washington Township in Warren County for municipal planning to preserve farmland. The grant is a direct allocation under existing farmland preservation programs, with Washington Township also potentially eligible for additional competitive grants from other funds. The bill specifically directs this $500,000 to Washington Township without requiring a separate application.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $2.73 billion in loans to local governments and public water utilities for environmental infrastructure projects during fiscal year 2025. It specifically funds 156 clean water projects (totaling $1.9 billion) and 72 drinking water projects (totaling $715 million) through designated eligibility lists. Loans can cover a portion of construction costs with repayment terms up to 30 years, and interest rates tied to the bank's bond rates. The bill also authorizes an additional $1.5 billion for short-term loans through the Interim Environmental Financing Program for priority projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 from existing state funds to provide a specific grant for farmland preservation in Washington Township, Warren County. The funds come from $200,000 in constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues and $300,000 from the 2009 Farmland Preservation Fund. The grant is for municipal planning purposes to support farmland preservation efforts, as authorized under New Jersey law. Washington Township is the direct recipient, with this allocation specified in the bill. The funds are sourced from established, dedicated programs for open space and farmland conservation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes legal protections for patients and healthcare providers accessing or providing reproductive and gender-affirming health care services in New Jersey. It creates a new crime for interfering with these services (including physical obstruction, intimidation, or damaging property), with penalties ranging from a disorderly persons offense to a fourth-degree crime. The bill also prevents New Jersey from extraditing people for legally protected health care activities, prohibits licensing boards from penalizing providers for services that are legal in New Jersey but illegal in other states, and protects patient privacy related to these services. It specifically ensures that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus has no independent legal rights under New Jersey law.