S 1989 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Enhances criminal penalties for persons involved in certain human trafficking activities.*

This bill strengthens New Jersey's human trafficking law by increasing penalties for traffickers. It defines trafficking more broadly (including holding people for sexual activity or labor through threats, fraud, or document confiscation) and makes violations a first-degree crime punishable by 20 years to life in prison with no parole eligibility for the first 20 years. Perpetrators must pay restitution to victims based on New Jersey's prevailing wage laws or federal standards, and fines will fund a new "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund." The law directly affects traffickers facing harsher sentences, victims receiving restitution, and agencies managing the survivor fund.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Dec 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
General Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2024 Last action Dec 11, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 2, 2025

How they voted

380
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Jun 2, 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
5
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Dec 11, 2025
Committee
Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
lower
Jun 12, 2025
Committee
Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
lower
Jun 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (38-0)
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
upper
Jan 9, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
2 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors