S 3386 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Authorizes use of campaign funds for security expenses of candidate, officeholder, staff, and certain family members.*

New Jersey Senate Bill S 3386 allows candidates and officeholders to use campaign funds for security expenses directly related to their political role. It permits spending on security devices (like alarms, cameras, and fencing), professional security services, and cybersecurity, but only for ongoing threats tied to their position. The bill caps physical security spending at $10,000 per candidacy and prohibits using funds for firearms, payments to immediate family, or general home improvements. All expenditures require documentation and must align with specific security needs, not property enhancements.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 6 edits

MODERATE

The First Reprint of S3386 makes several substantive changes to the campaign security spending bill. Most significantly, it removes the $10,000 cap on physical security equipment, narrows family coverage to only those who share a household with the candidate, and changes the legal framework from additive ('in addition to') to overriding ('notwithstanding') existing law. The word 'campaign' was also removed before 'staff,' potentially broadening which staff members qualify for security spending.

SCOPE

Changed from 'In addition to those uses permitted under section 17' to 'Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17 or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary.' This makes the bill override conflicting existing laws rather than simply adding to them.

ELIGIBILITY

Narrowed family coverage from 'members of their immediate family' to 'members of their family who reside in the same household.' This requires cohabitation and removes the previously defined 'immediate family' category (spouse, child, parent, sibling, and in-laws).

Removed the word 'campaign' before 'staff,' so security spending may now cover any staff member rather than only campaign staff.

FISCAL

Removed the $10,000 per candidacy cap on expenditures for physical security equipment (structural and non-structural security devices).

DEFINITION

Removed the entire definitions subsection that defined 'immediate family' as spouse, child, parent, sibling, and their children/parents/siblings living in the same household.

TECHNICAL

Renumbered subsections e through h to d through f following the removal of the $10,000 cap subsection. The prohibitions on firearms purchases, payments to family members, and unauthorized home improvements remain but are restructured.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (40-0)

upper

May 21, 2026

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors