ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
ASSEMBLY, No. 3558
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JULY 24, 2025
The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably an Assembly Committee Substitute for Assembly Bill No. 3558.
This Assembly Committee Substitute establishes a State definition of antisemitism. Under the bill, “antisemitism” means a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, including rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism which are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and their property, Jewish community institutions, and religious facilities.
The bill details contemporary examples of antisemitism. The examples will be used as a tool to train and educate public officials, law enforcement personnel, and educators on recognizing and addressing antisemitism, to guide responses to incidents of antisemitism, including hate crimes targeting Jewish individuals or institutions, and to develop public awareness campaigns to combat antisemitism and promote understanding of Jewish history, culture, and contributions.
Nothing contained in the bill would be construed to diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or paragraph 6 of Article I of the New Jersey Constitution, to categorize political expression and discourse, academic inquiry, or other forms of speech critical of the State of Israel or its policies as antisemitic unless such speech includes specific language or actions defined as antisemitic under this bill, or to conflict with local, State, or federal anti-discrimination laws or regulations.
The bill provides that, in reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of any State or federal anti-bias law, the State is required to take into consideration the definition and examples of antisemitism provided in the bill for purposes of determining whether the alleged act was motivated by antisemitic intent.