ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4674

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 8, 2026

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4674.

      As amended, this bill upgrades the crime of cyber-harassment of a public servant or a public servant’s family member.  The bill also requires the Attorney General, through the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, to promote education and awareness of cyber-harassment, provide assistance to victims of cyber-harassment crimes, and promote initiatives and training throughout the State to prevent cyber-harassment, specifically against public servants and their family members.

      Under current law, cyber-harassment is a crime of the fourth degree, unless the person is 21 years of age or older at the time of the offense and impersonates a minor for the purpose of cyber-harassing a minor, in which case it is a crime of the third degree.  A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both; and a crime of the third degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both. 

      This bill amends the current law to also make cyber-harassment a third-degree crime if a person commits an offense against a public servant or any member of a public servant’s family.  The bill defines “public servant” as any person elected to public office, appointed to, or employed by any public entity in this State, or any subdivision thereof, and includes any person serving as a judicial officer, juror, advisor, or consultant performing a governmental function.

      Also, under current law, the trier of fact may infer that a person acted with a purpose to harass another, a stated element of the cyber-harassment crime, if the person knows or should have known that any of the person’s actions constituting an offense are knowingly directed to, or are about, a judicial officer and there is a nexus between the offense and it relates to the performance of the judge’s public duties.  This bill amends the law to expand this legal inference to apply to all cases involving public servants, as that term is defined in the bill.

      The bill sets forth the following tasks that the Attorney General will be required to conduct or effectuate:

      (1) regularly engage with law enforcement, legal professionals, and technology professionals to clearly and comprehensively define cyber-harassment within the context of cyber-harassment crime, as it evolves due to emerging technologies;

      (2) establish user-friendly and accessible reporting systems to enable cyber-harassment victims to easily report cyber-harassment offenses and seek assistance from relevant authorities;

      (3) implement educational programs, directed towards both potential cyber-harassment offenders and victims, in order to raise awareness about cyber-harassment and its consequences;

      (4) collaborate with social media platforms to develop stricter policies to identify and remove harassing content;

      (5) encourage social media platforms to implement reporting features and provide support to victims to help create a safer online environment;

      (6) provide support services, counseling, and legal aid to victims of cyber-harassment to help them cope with the emotional and psychological impact of such harassment;

      (7) coordinate with the Department of Education to offer cyber ethics classes in New Jersey schools that help to promote responsible online behavior and create a culture of respect and empathy online;

      (8) coordinate with State and local law enforcement agencies to establish or expand specialized units within law enforcement agencies that are dedicated to handling cyber-harassment crimes; and

      (9) coordinate with State and local law enforcement agencies to enhance comprehensive training programs for law enforcement personnel on cyber-harassment investigation techniques, digital evidence collection, and law enforcement procedures specific to cyber-harassment cases.

      Lastly, the bill would appropriate from the General Fund to the Department of Law and Public Safety such funds as are necessary for the implementation of the provisions of the bill.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to remove the Attorney General’s requirement to establish an Office of Cyber-Harassment Support and re-allocated the office’s responsibilities directly to the Attorney General.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information for this bill is currently unavailable.