ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4975

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 20, 2025

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4975.

      As amended, this bill establishes the crime of possessing digital instructions that may be used to program a three-dimensional printer to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver, magazine, or firearm component.  Under the bill, a person who is not licensed or registered to manufacture firearms and knowingly possesses firearm digital instructions is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.  A fourth degree crime is punishable by imprisonment for up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

      Under current law, it is a crime to utilize digital instructions to illegally manufacture a firearm using a three-dimensional printer. 

      This bill implements Recommendation 2 of the State Commission of Investigation’s 2024 report, “Illegal Firearms Use & Trends in New Jersey.”

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to change the degree of crime to a crime of the fourth degree.