S 587 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Creates neutral safe exchange zones at county sheriff offices for certain custody and parenting time exchanges of minor children; makes appropriation.*

This bill creates neutral safe exchange zones at county sheriff offices for parents exchanging minor children under custody or visitation orders. Each zone must have clear signage, 24/7 access, adequate lighting, and continuous video surveillance recording for 45 days. The court may require exchanges at these zones if domestic violence is involved or a restraining order exists. County sheriffs receive state funding to establish these zones, and law enforcement is protected from liability for incidents occurring there.
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
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Reprint · 6 edits
MODERATE
The First Reprint of S587 updates terminology from 'visitation' to 'parenting time' throughout, makes safe exchange zone usage a court-ordered requirement rather than a default rule, restructures the domestic violence provision to trigger on filing of a compliance motion, and simplifies the types of orders covered. The Statement section was removed and the effect date clause was relocated to the end of the bill.
DEFINITION

The term 'visitation' is replaced with 'parenting time' throughout the bill, aligning the language with modern New Jersey family law terminology.

REQUIREMENT

Section 1a changes from a default rule ('the exchange shall be conducted at a neutral safe exchange zone') to a mandatory court order ('the court shall order that the exchange of the minor child be conducted at a neutral safe exchange zone'), making judicial involvement explicit.

ELIGIBILITY

Section 1b restructures the domestic violence provision. Previously, the trigger was simply the existence of a DV history or restraining order plus a party's request. Now the trigger is 'when a motion to enforce compliance with a parenting time or custody order is filed,' and the DV history or restraining order becomes the condition under which the court may designate an exchange site.

SCOPE

Section 2a narrows the types of orders covered, changing from 'parenting time-sharing schedule or child custody or visitation order' to simply 'parenting time or custody order,' removing the separate reference to time-sharing schedules and visitation orders.

TECHNICAL

The entire Statement section (a non-binding summary of the bill) was removed in the reprint version.

The effect date clause (13th month following enactment) was moved from its original position after the appropriation section to the end of the bill, and minor punctuation changes were made in sections 2c and 2d.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jun 11, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors