Asm. Bill Spearman

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new misdemeanor offense for harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or sexual orientation, whether through physical acts, electronic communication, or verbal gestures. It directly affects minors targeted by such behavior and juveniles charged with the offense. Key provisions mandate that juveniles charged with this offense must be diverted to remedial education or counseling programs (instead of court prosecution), designed to teach about legal consequences, long-term impacts, and connections to cyberbullying. Fines of up to $100 for a first offense and $250 for repeat offenses apply to both adults and juveniles.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey colleges and universities to maintain a supply of naloxone nasal spray (an opioid overdose reversal medication) in secure but accessible campus locations and develop specific emergency response policies. The policy must designate a licensed medical professional to oversee naloxone use, permit trained staff (including resident assistants) to administer it in good faith during suspected overdoses, and mandate hospital transport after administration. Institutions must also provide required training on naloxone protocols to designated personnel, with liability protection for good-faith actions. The bill specifically exempts licensed athletic trainers from violating their licensure act when using naloxone under these protocols.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A912 prohibits the publication of voter registration data from the state's official voter database on the Internet. The bill directly affects all registered voters in New Jersey by preventing their personal information - such as names, addresses, and other details stored in the statewide system - from being publicly posted online. Key provisions amend existing law to explicitly ban internet publication of this data, while maintaining current access for authorized entities like election officials, county clerks, and political parties upon request. The bill does not restrict the use of voter lists for official election purposes or for voters to obtain physical copies by paying a fee.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates up to $20 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Education specifically for school facility cleaning and sanitization. It directly affects public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools that receive a written health directive from the New Jersey Department of Health or a local health officer to close due to potential COVID-19 exposure (starting March 9, 2020). Funds cover disinfectants, cleaning supplies, and increased personnel costs for enhanced cleaning schedules. The Commissioner of Education must establish an expedited application process and allocate funds based on student enrollment across all eligible schools.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Safe Storage of Firearms Act requires legal firearm owners to store unloaded firearms in a locked container with ammunition stored separately when not in use, applying to most owners except active law enforcement officers (when minors are present), temporary transfers, and firearms on display for sale. Retail dealers must provide written warnings and post signs about safe storage requirements to customers. The bill appropriates $500,000 for a public awareness campaign about safe storage risks and requires the Attorney General to collect data on implementation and submit annual reports to the Legislature. This replaces previous laws specifically addressing minors' access to firearms with broader safe storage requirements for all firearm owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program that encourages gas utilities to adopt renewable natural gas (RNG) and invest in related infrastructure. It provides gas utilities with a mechanism to recover costs for qualifying investments and RNG procurement from customers through regulated rate adjustments, subject to BPU approval. Utilities must purchase RNG at market rates, and the BPU will set customer charges based on actual costs, including RNG supply, commodity, and administrative expenses. The program aims to support greenhouse gas reduction efforts while ensuring ratepayer protections through BPU oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill would raise the minimum age to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card (required for purchasing rifles and shotguns) from 18 to 21 years old. It would not affect the existing requirement that handgun purchasers must be at least 21 years old. Under the bill, people under 21 could still possess firearms for specific purposes like hunting with a valid license and safety certification, military training, or target practice under supervision. Active duty military members, reservists, and National Guard members would remain eligible for the card before age 21. Those who already had the card before the bill's effective date could continue to use it.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's firearms regulations by requiring that firearms purchaser identification cards be valid for four years (expiring on the holder's birthday in the fourth year after issuance), rather than indefinitely as under current law. It also requires applicants to complete a firearms safety training course approved by the State Police within four years prior to application (with exemptions for law enforcement and veterans). Additionally, the bill revises inheritance procedures for firearms, requiring heirs or legatees to possess a valid firearms purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun before taking possession of inherited firearms, with specific procedures for transferring firearms to law enforcement if the heir doesn't qualify for a permit.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the treatment, discharge, disposal, application to roadways, or storage of wastewater, sludge, drill cuttings, or other byproducts from hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural gas exploration or production within New Jersey. It applies to all such materials regardless of where the fracking occurred, targeting contaminants like heavy metals, radioactive materials, and chemicals that risk contaminating water supplies and overwhelming wastewater treatment systems. The law bans these activities immediately upon enactment, aiming to prevent environmental harm and health risks associated with fracking waste. It directly affects natural gas companies and waste handlers operating in New Jersey who manage fracking byproducts.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases financial aid to New Jersey municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years, restoring approximately $331 million in reduced aid payments that municipalities received during fiscal years 2009-2011. In fiscal year 2023, municipalities will receive 50% of the difference between their 2008 and 2012 aid distributions, with full restoration beginning in 2024. Municipalities must subtract any additional aid received from their property tax levy calculations and cannot anticipate this aid when creating annual budgets. The bill requires municipalities to amend their budgets to properly reflect the total aid amount, ensuring the aid directly reduces the amount they need to raise through property taxes.