This bill prohibits New Jersey law enforcement agencies from using drones for surveillance or other law enforcement activities, affecting police departments and officers statewide. Exceptions include drone use authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for counter-terrorism threats or by the forest fire service for wildfire monitoring (with a 350-foot altitude limit). It also bans drones for enforcing building and land-use regulations under state codes. Violating the ban can lead to civil lawsuits and the exclusion of illegally gathered evidence in court.
This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a 90-day pilot program in the 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates (based on Uniform Crime Report data). Each participating police department would receive a ballistics scanning device to immediately analyze cartridge cases at crime scenes and access investigative reports. After the pilot, agencies must submit usage reports to the Attorney General, who will then recommend to the Governor and Legislature whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies in high-crime areas by providing new investigative tools and establishing a process for evaluating their long-term use.
This bill requires the New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences to collect specific data for six months on drug evidence testing conducted by law enforcement. It mandates recording details like whether field tests were performed, their results, whether lab analysis followed, and instances where field tests may have been incorrect. The Office must then issue a report to the legislature within 90 days, analyzing false positive rates and trends related to drug field test reliability. The data collection applies to all drug evidence specimens gathered during investigations of controlled substance violations. This is a data-gathering measure, not a policy change, aimed at understanding current testing practices.
This bill redirects unspent animal control funds that municipalities and the state have held for over three years. Instead of returning to general funds, excess municipal funds are sent to county prosecutors (40%) and redistributed to municipalities (60%). Excess state funds go to the State Police (40%), county humane law enforcement officers (50%), and the Police Training Commission (10%). These funds must be used exclusively for enforcing animal cruelty laws and training law enforcement officers.
This bill, if passed, would criminalize using a defaced or stolen firearm to harm police officers in New Jersey. It creates two new offenses: using such a firearm to cause *serious* injury would be a first-degree crime (enhanced penalties), while causing *less severe* injury would be a second-degree crime. The law defines "defaced" as removing identification marks (like serial numbers), excluding normal wear or damage. It also ensures these convictions don't merge with other charges the offender intended to commit. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee (introduced January 2026).
This bill (A 1070) provides a $3 million supplemental appropriation to the New Jersey Division of State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The funds are designated to cover specific operational costs including advanced training, equipment, vehicle purchases, software licenses, and staff mental health initiatives for the unit. The bill also requires any unspent funds from the previous fiscal year to carry forward for the same purpose. Note: This bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was already approved under P.L.2025, c.331.
This bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to revise the state's law enforcement use of force policy, which hasn't been updated since 2001. The revised policy must include specific requirements like mandating de-escalation techniques, ensuring force is proportional to the situation, requiring officers to report excessive force they witness, and establishing clear firearm use guidelines. It directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies and officers who must follow the updated policy. The Attorney General must publish the revised policy within seven months of the bill's enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to obtain a court order before using imaging surveillance devices that can see inside buildings (like through walls using radar or infrared). It directly affects police departments and the residents whose homes or properties might be scanned. To get the court order, law enforcement must submit a written application detailing the target, purpose, location, duration, and proof that other investigative methods were tried and failed or would be too dangerous. The bill aims to prevent warrantless surveillance by mandating judicial oversight for this technology.
This bill establishes the ARRIVE Together Program to provide mental health crisis response alternatives to law enforcement. It requires law enforcement agencies (including state police, county police, and municipal departments) to partner with licensed mental health providers who can respond to calls involving mental health or substance use crises instead of police-only interventions. The program mandates confidentiality for all personal health information collected during responses and protects mental health providers from civil liability for good-faith actions taken during crisis interventions. The law applies directly to law enforcement agencies, mental health service providers, and individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises during emergency calls.
This bill (A2192) creates the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety, funded by a $2 million appropriation. The authority, governed by a 7-member board (including the Attorney General, state police, prosecutors, an insurance representative, and public members), aims to coordinate statewide efforts to prevent, combat, and reduce automobile theft. Key mechanisms include developing prevention strategies, funding law enforcement programs, and auditing funded initiatives to ensure effectiveness. The authority will report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its activities.
