S 1525 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Creates offense of financial exploitation of the elderly.

S 1525 creates a new criminal offense for financial exploitation of elderly individuals in New Jersey. It directly affects seniors who may be targeted by caregivers, family members, or others in fiduciary roles (like trustees or financial advisors) who misuse their trust. The bill defines key terms to clarify what constitutes exploitation, such as unlawfully withholding or disposing of an elderly person’s property for personal gain. If passed, it would make specific financial abuse of seniors a punishable crime under New Jersey law, with penalties outlined in amended statutes. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 11, 2026

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What changed between versions

Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill → Introduced · 7 edits · Jan 13, 2026

MODERATE

This is primarily a technical cleanup of S 1525 (financial exploitation of the elderly) as it moves from committee report to introduction. The substantive changes include removal of two definitions ('Payment processor' and 'Individual'), relettering of remaining subsections, correction of a cross-reference to the 'Elderly' definition, and an updated citation for prescription blanks. A legislative statement summarizing the bill's offense grading was added.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Payment processor' (former subsection x) is removed entirely, including its two-part test and the exclusion for clearance and settlement systems.

The definition of 'Individual' (former subsection y, defined as a natural person) is removed.

TECHNICAL

Remaining subsections are relettered: 'Elderly' moves from z to x, and 'Person in a position of trust' moves from aa to y. Internal sub-items of 'Person in a position of trust' change from numbered (1)-(5) to lettered (a)-(e).

A cross-reference in section 3c is corrected from 'subsection 2.' to 'subsection x.' to properly point to the relettered 'Elderly' definition.

The citation for New Jersey Prescription Blank changes from 'section 16 of P.L.2003, c.280 (C.45:14-55)' to 'R.S.45:14-14', updating the statutory reference.

A STATEMENT section is appended at the end summarizing the bill's purpose, defining key terms, and explaining how the offense grading compares to existing theft penalties (third degree for $200-$500, fourth degree for under $200).

Numerous punctuation changes throughout: commas before 'or' in lists are removed (e.g., 'agent, or officer' becomes 'agent or officer'), and line breaks are reflowed. These are formatting-only changes with no legal effect.

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Committee

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors