A 5120 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Clarifies protections and remedies under New Jersey Civil Rights Act; establishes certain aggravating factors regarding award of punitive damages.

This bill amends New Jersey's Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against constitutional violations by private individuals and government officials. It clarifies that victims can sue for damages and relief regardless of whether the violator is acting under color of law, while also allowing the Attorney General to bring civil actions on behalf of injured parties. The legislation ensures that any damages awarded in these cases are distributed to the victims and includes provisions for jury trials in Superior Court. Additionally, the bill establishes specific aggravating factors that courts may consider when deciding whether to award punitive damages.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 18, 2026 Last action May 18, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
0
May 18, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors