ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5346

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 20, 2025

      The Assembly Judiciary Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5346.

      This bill establishes the “Firearm and Ammunition Procurement Act” to develop State procurement practices for firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories.

      Under this bill, State agencies must require a bidder who engages in the public procurement process to certify, before the contract is awarded, renewed, amended, or extended, that the bidder does not sell unserialized gun build kits or firearm precursor parts, including, but not limited to, unserialized firearms, unserialized unfinished frames, and unserialized unfinished receivers.  This certification by the bidder must include the disclosure of any violation found from any type of inspection conducted by a federal, State, or local agency during the two most recent firearm, ammunition, or firearm accessory inspections.

      The bill also requires a bidder seeking the award of, or a contractor who is awarded, a contract with a State agency for the procurement of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories to, during the public procurement process, on an annual basis, and upon request of the State agency, provide to the State agency certain proof and materials related to firearm, ammunition, or firearm accessory safety.

      Under the bill, a State agency must reject a bid from a bidder or cancel a contract with a contractor if the bidder or contractor has not complied with the provisions of this bill.  A State agency will not be permitted to make exigent or emergency purchases of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories.

      This bill also requires each State agency, in coordination with the Office of the Attorney General, to develop processes and procedures to implement the provisions of this bill.

      This bill will apply to any contract for the procurement of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories which a State agency solicits, enters into, awards, amends, renews, or extends on or after the effective date of this bill.