A 2846 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Creates penalty for failure to cooperate with child abuse investigations; upgrades penalties for failure to report child abuse.

This bill upgrades penalties for failing to report child abuse or cooperate with investigations in New Jersey. It increases the penalty for failing to report general child abuse from a disorderly persons offense to a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine). For sexual abuse reports, the penalty rises from a fourth-degree to a third-degree crime (3-5 years in jail or $15,000 fine). It also creates a new fourth-degree crime for failing to cooperate with child abuse investigations conducted by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. These changes apply to anyone with reasonable cause to believe abuse occurred, such as mandated reporters (e.g., teachers, healthcare workers).
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
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

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