ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4975

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 20, 2025

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 4975 (1R).

      As amended, this bill establishes the crime of possessing digital instructions that may be used to program a three-dimensional printer with the intent 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 prohibit a person from possessing the digital instructions with the intent to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver, magazine, or firearm component; As introduced, the bill did not require the element of intent. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill will result in an indeterminate increase in annual State and local expenditures.  The OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the fiscal impact, as it is not possible to know how many individuals will be prosecuted, tried, and sentenced for crimes under the bill. 

      The bill’s establishment of a crime of the fourth degree would result in the following State and local agencies incurring caseload and expenditure increases: a) the Department of Law and Public Safety would provide guidance and other information related to the prosecution of the cases; b) county prosecutors would have to prosecute additional cases; c) the Judiciary would have to adjudicate additional complaints and monitor additional probationers; d) the Office of the Public Defender would have to represent additional low-income criminal defendants; e) the Department of Corrections may have to house and care for more individuals in cases where the sentencing involves incarceration; and f) the State Parole Board may have to supervise the return to society of additional convicts. 

      The OLS also notes that the State may receive indeterminate revenue from fines imposed on individuals convicted of the new crime; however, the State’s ability to collect fines has historically been limited.