A 1144 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

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
Photo of Joe Danielsen
Joe Danielsen
DDemocratic
NJ
17