S 478 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires court to order financial support for child if child's parent or guardian is killed by drunk driver.

This bill requires courts to order drunk drivers who cause fatal accidents to provide financial support for minor children when the deceased was their parent or guardian. Specifically, it amends New Jersey's vehicular homicide law to mandate that offenders convicted of reckless driving while violating DUI laws (R.S.39:4-50) pay restitution for affected children. The provision applies only when the victim was a parent or guardian of a minor child at the time of death. Courts must include this financial obligation as part of sentencing, in addition to other restitution orders. The bill does not change DUI penalties but adds a specific requirement for child support in these cases.
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 in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Owen Henry
Owen Henry
RRepublican
NJ
12