S 2565 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Permits victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify in criminal proceedings via closed circuit television; permits judge to make motion to seek closed circuit testimony.

This bill (S 2565) expands access to closed-circuit television testimony for victims and witnesses specifically in human trafficking cases. It allows courts to order such testimony after finding clear evidence that testifying in person would cause severe emotional distress, with safeguards ensuring the victim/witness testifies under oath, faces cross-examination, and their demeanor remains observable. The law permits victims, prosecutors, defendants, or judges to request this testimony, and includes special confidentiality rules for minors (under 18) regarding audio recordings of their testimony. This directly affects human trafficking victims and witnesses in New Jersey criminal trials, making it easier for them to participate without facing traumatic in-person courtroom settings.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
General Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill Introduced · 3 edits · Jan 13, 2026
MINOR
This diff reflects the transition of S 2565 from a technical review version to its introduced version. Two co-sponsors (Stack and Beach) were removed, and a STATEMENT section was added at the end describing the bill's purpose: permitting all victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify via closed circuit television, expanding beyond the current law which limits this to cases involving sexual activity. The operative text of the bill is unchanged; remaining differences are formatting and whitespace.
SCOPE

Co-sponsor list was reduced from five senators (Diegnan, Ruiz, Space, Stack, Beach) to three (Diegnan, Ruiz, Space), removing Stack and Beach.

TECHNICAL

A STATEMENT section was added at the end of the bill explaining that it would permit all victims and witnesses of human trafficking to testify via closed circuit television, expanding from current law which only covers cases involving sexual activity. It also notes the bill would allow a trial judge to make a motion for closed circuit testimony.

Bill status changed from 'As reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee with technical review' to 'Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel,' reflecting its progression through the legislative process.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Jun 30, 2026
Committee
Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
Jun 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by the Senate (40-0)
upper
Jun 11, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
2 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors