A 4684 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Removes certain limitations on recovery for victims of certain sexual offenses.

This bill removes a legal barrier preventing victims of sexual offenses from recovering pain and suffering damages against public entities (like government agencies or employees) in New Jersey. Currently, public entities are generally barred from paying such damages for any injury, except in cases of permanent disfigurement with high medical costs ($3,600+). The bill specifically adds sexual assault, prohibited sexual acts (N.J.S.A. 2A:30B-2), sexual abuse (N.J.S.A. 2A:61B-1), or other sexual crimes to the list of exceptions. Victims of these offenses can now seek compensation for pain and suffering through lawsuits against public entities. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
General Assembly Passage
Oct 2024
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Sep 12, 2024 Signed Mar 6, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2025 · General Assembly Oct 28, 2024

How they voted

380
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Feb 25, 2025
D Democratic25
23 Yea 2
92% Yea
R Republican15
15 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Mar 6, 2025
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2025, c.29.
executive
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (38-0)
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
upper
Dec 5, 2024
Committee
Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Oct 28, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (77-0-0)
lower
Oct 24, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
lower
Oct 21, 2024
Committee
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
lower
Sep 12, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
4 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors