This New Jersey bill (A 3388) creates a legal presumption that custody of children should be awarded to a domestic violence victim in appropriate cases, shifting the default in family court custody decisions when abuse is proven. It requires courts to order counseling for children in households affected by domestic violence and mandates that victims and abusers be informed about available counseling services immediately upon filing a complaint. Key mechanisms include waiving residency requirements for filing complaints, streamlining emergency protective orders (including firearm safety measures), and ensuring courts provide clear information about services. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims, their children, and family court proceedings handling custody disputes involving abuse.
This bill (A-3044) makes it a criminal offense for a person who improperly stores a loaded firearm at their premises to be automatically liable for criminal penalties if a minor accesses it and causes injury or death. It increases penalties based on severity: a third-degree crime for bodily injury, second-degree for serious injury, and first-degree for death. The law applies to anyone in control of premises where a minor (now defined as under age 18, up from 16) gains access to an improperly stored firearm. It does not change current storage requirements (e.g., locked container, trigger lock) but escalates consequences when injury or death occurs.
This bill appropriates $2.5 million in supplemental funding from the General Fund to Salvation and Social Justice for its "Return and Restore" program. The funds will be administered by the Trenton Restorative Street Team (TRST), a community-based initiative that directly serves formerly incarcerated individuals in Trenton at risk of gang involvement or recidivism. Key provisions include providing comprehensive supportive services - such as outreach, counseling, and conflict mediation - through a team of trained workers, including former gang members and formerly incarcerated residents. The program aims to reduce gang-related activities, gun violence, and recidivism by addressing root causes in high-risk communities. This funding supplements existing state appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year and takes effect immediately.
This bill allows county sheriffs to directly certify that law enforcement officers in their departments meet specific renewal criteria for their licenses. It affects officers employed by county sheriff's departments in New Jersey. The certification requires verifying the officer has good moral character (via background check), completed required training, has no disqualifying convictions (like domestic violence, DUIs, or hate crimes), is not affiliated with groups advocating violence or discrimination, and has no social media posts supporting bias. This changes the current process where chief law enforcement officers (not sheriffs) typically handled this certification.
This bill makes adults criminally liable if a minor gains access to an improperly stored firearm (including in vehicles) and uses it to commit a crime. It raises the age of "minor" from 16 to 18, removes the requirement that the firearm be loaded, and upgrades the offense from a disorderly persons offense to a third-degree crime. If a minor uses such a firearm for criminal activity, the adult who facilitated access faces a second-degree crime charge (5-10 years in prison), and the firearm is deemed a "community gun" under existing law. The law aims to hold adults accountable for negligent firearm storage that enables minors to access weapons used in crimes.
This New Jersey bill requires courts to conduct a criminal background check for any name change application. Applicants must consent in writing, pay for the check, and provide fingerprints for verification against state and federal records. The bill prohibits name changes for individuals convicted of violent crimes (like assault or robbery) or domestic violence offenses (including stalking or harassment), unless the request is for religious reasons. Courts must also notify victims or their immediate family members if an applicant with such a conviction seeks a name change. The bill is pending and would not take effect until three months after enactment.
This bill amends New Jersey's assault statute (N.J.S. 2C:12-1) to increase penalties for assaulting specific public safety personnel. It designates assault on a Class Two special law enforcement officer while performing duties as aggravated assault, and adds that causing bodily injury through arson (violating N.J.S. 2C:17-1) that harms emergency services personnel (including firemen, medical staff, and law enforcement) is also aggravated assault. The bill does not include provisions allowing arson investigators to carry firearms, as that detail is absent from the provided bill text. The summary is based solely on the assault statute amendments included in the bill.
This New Jersey bill (A446) prohibits adults from leaving loaded firearms accessible to minors under age 18 at their home or property. It requires firearm owners to store guns securely - using locked containers, secure locations, or trigger locks - to prevent minor access, or face a misdemeanor charge. Law enforcement officers observing unsecured firearms must return later to verify proper storage. The law amends existing law (P.L.1991, c.397) to raise the minor age from 16 to 18 and adds this enforcement mechanism. Violations carry penalties of up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.
This bill (A1425) revises New Jersey's criminal trespassing penalties when a firearm is carried. It elevates trespassing offenses to higher criminal degrees in specific locations - such as schools, dwellings, hazardous facilities, or airports - if a firearm is present, regardless of whether the person holds a valid permit. For example, trespassing in a dwelling with a firearm becomes a third-degree crime (3-5 years imprisonment) instead of a fourth-degree offense. The bill also creates an inference that a firearm-carrying trespasser knew they weren’t licensed to enter, didn’t follow posted rules, or reasonably believed they’d be allowed. It directly affects anyone committing trespass in designated locations while carrying a firearm.
This bill grants full police powers and the authority to carry firearms at all times to special agents in New Jersey's Department of Treasury. It directly affects these Treasury special agents, expanding their role beyond tax enforcement to include standard police duties like arrests and investigations. Key provisions require them to complete approved police training and establish them as peace officers under state law, enabling warrantless arrests for tax law violations and seizure of related contraband. The bill amends existing statutes to formally include Treasury special agents in the list of authorized firearm carriers under state law.
