This bill (S 2873) restricts the disclosure and use of criminal records that have been legally expunged in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals with expunged records, background check companies, and government licensing boards. Key provisions include: making it illegal to knowingly share expunged records (with fines up to $5,000 per violation), requiring background check companies to delete expunged records within 30 days of a request, and mandating that licensing boards redact expunged convictions from their records while keeping the fact of disciplinary action visible. The bill strengthens enforcement of expungement by adding civil penalties and clear procedures for correcting records.
This bill (S 2750) clarifies that New Jersey residents can voluntarily surrender ammunition to law enforcement agencies in the same manner as firearms, requiring written notice to the local chief of police or state police superintendent. It mandates that gun buyback programs authorized by the Attorney General or county prosecutors must accept both firearms and ammunition, and may offer rewards for surrendered items. The bill explicitly confirms that existing law permits these programs but removes ambiguity about ammunition surrender, making the process clearer for participants and law enforcement.
S 2903, "MarcAnthony's Law," creates new criminal penalties for using defaced or stolen firearms to harm police officers in New Jersey. It classifies causing serious injury as a first-degree crime and causing bodily injury as a second-degree crime. The law specifically defines "defacing" a firearm as removing or altering its maker's name, model, or serial number (excluding normal wear and tear), and prohibits convictions from merging with other charges for the same act. This bill directly affects law enforcement officers and individuals who use altered or stolen firearms against them. The legislation amends New Jersey's criminal code to strengthen penalties for this specific offense.
New Jersey's S 2281 makes it a crime (third degree) for anyone to knowingly possess a firearm during a public demonstration specifically intended to cause civil disorder. This applies regardless of whether the person has a valid firearm permit or purchase card. The bill defines "civil disorder" as violent gatherings of two or more people creating imminent danger to public safety, and "public demonstration" as organized public gatherings supporting or opposing a cause. Violators face up to 5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).
This bill allows prosecutors to seek transfer of certain juvenile cases to adult court without the juvenile's consent. It applies to 15-year-olds or older accused of serious offenses like homicide, sexual assault, gun crimes, or drug trafficking. Prosecutors must file a motion within 60 days with written justification, and courts must review factors including the juvenile's age, prior record, and mental health before approving transfer. If transferred, juveniles would typically serve custodial sentences in juvenile facilities until age 21, with limited exceptions for older juveniles or specific circumstances.
This bill (S 375) changes New Jersey's juvenile justice process by allowing prosecutors to seek to try juveniles aged 15 or older as adults for specific serious offenses without the juvenile's consent. It targets crimes like homicide, certain robberies, sexual assaults, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking (as listed in the bill text). Courts must review factors like the crime's severity, the juvenile's maturity, and prior history before granting the waiver. If convicted, juveniles would serve custodial sentences in juvenile facilities until age 21, with limited options to transfer to adult facilities. The bill applies directly to juveniles charged with the enumerated offenses in the state's statutes.
This bill raises New Jersey's minimum age for obtaining a firearms purchaser identification card from 18 to 21 years old. It directly affects 18- to 20-year-olds who would no longer be eligible to purchase firearms without a license under this law. The key change amends existing statute N.J.S.2C:58-3 to require applicants to be 21 or older for this permit, maintaining the current background check process for firearm transactions. The bill does not alter background check requirements or exceptions for immediate family, law enforcement, or collectors.
S 1268 would have added criminal penalties for selling or possessing machine gun conversion devices - parts that turn standard firearms into automatic weapons. It directly affects individuals who manufacture, sell, or keep these parts, making such actions a criminal offense under New Jersey's firearm laws. The bill amended existing definitions to explicitly include "any part designed and intended solely for converting a firearm into a machine gun" within prohibited items. However, the bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was superseded by a prior law (P.L.2025, c.363).
This bill (S 2352) amends New Jersey law to hold adults criminally liable if a minor under age 18 accesses a firearm they improperly stored and uses it to commit a crime. It upgrades the offense from a disorderly persons charge to a third-degree crime (3-5 years prison, up to $15,000 fine) by removing the "loaded" requirement, extending coverage to firearms in vehicles, and raising the minor’s age threshold from 16 to 18. If a minor uses the firearm unlawfully after gaining access due to improper storage, the adult facilitator faces a second-degree crime charge (5-10 years prison, up to $150,000 fine) under the "community gun" statute. The law directly affects parents, guardians, or anyone responsible for firearm storage in homes or vehicles where minors gain access.
This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to launch a 90-day pilot program in the state's 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates (based on recent Uniform Crime Reports). Each participating local police department would receive a ballistics scanning device to immediately analyze cartridge cases at crime scenes and access instant crime scene analysis reports for investigations. After the pilot, each agency must submit a usage report with recommendations to the Attorney General, who then must recommend to the Governor and Legislature whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The law aims to evaluate if these devices improve firearm-related crime investigations in high-crime areas.
