A 5975 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Establishes crime of agroterrorism.

This bill creates a new criminal offense for agroterrorism in New Jersey, prohibiting the knowing or reckless importation of biological agents, toxins, or organisms designated as "high-risk agricultural pathogens" that threaten crops, livestock, or ecosystems. The Secretary of Agriculture, with input from environmental, health, and federal agencies, must establish a list of these pathogens to define the crime. Agroterrorism is a second-degree crime (5-10 years in prison, up to $150,000 fine) unless it involves concealment of origin, foreign government involvement, or over $1 million in economic damage, in which case it becomes a first-degree crime (10-20 years, up to $200,000 fine). The law directly affects individuals or entities importing such pathogens into New Jersey, targeting acts that could cause widespread agricultural harm.
Sub-Topics: Corrections
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Nov 13, 2025 Last action Nov 13, 2025
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Nov 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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Legislator
Party
State
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P
Photo of Alex Sauickie
Alex Sauickie
RRepublican
NJ
12