Authorizes possession of bear deterrent spray.
This bill (A1144) proposes to amend New Jersey law by adding bear deterrent spray to the list of items exempt from firearm possession restrictions under N.J.S.2C:39-6. It would allow residents to legally carry bear spray without needing a firearm permit, provided they meet requirements similar to those for other exempted weapons (like completing training and annual proficiency tests). The bill specifically targets individuals who may encounter bears in outdoor areas, such as hikers or residents in rural communities. The amendment is still pending before the Assembly Public Safety Committee as of its introduction date.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Jan 13, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Joe Danielsen
DDemocratic
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