A 306 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Clarifies that certain beach owners and lessees have no duty to keep beach safe or to warn of hazards; provides immunity from liability, in certain cases, for injuries occurring on beach or in adjacent waters.

This bill clarifies that private beach owners or lessees who allow public access for recreation have no duty to maintain beach safety or post warnings about hazards. It provides immunity from liability for injuries occurring on unguarded beaches (where no lifeguard is present) or in adjacent waters. Exceptions apply only if the owner or lifeguard willfully failed to address known dangers, acted negligently in commercial contexts, or if injuries occurred during unrelated activities on guarded beaches. The law directly affects private beach operators and visitors using publicly accessible beaches.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Paul Kanitra
Paul Kanitra
RRepublican
NJ
10