LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
SENATE, No. 3529
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: JANUARY 8, 2026
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Criminalizes the use of “signal jammers.” |
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Type of Impact: |
Annual State expenditure and revenue increases; annual local expenditure increases. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Department of Law and Public Safety; County Prosecutors; the Judiciary; Office of the Public Defender; Department of Corrections; State Parole Board. |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
Annual |
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State Cost Increase |
Indeterminate |
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State Revenue Increase |
Indeterminate |
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Local Cost Increase |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual State and local expenditures. The following State and local agencies would or may incur 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 notes, however, that a presumption of non-incarceration generally applies to first time offenders of a crime of the fourth degree.
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The OLS finds that the State may receive indeterminate revenues
from court filing fees, fines, and penalties for the crime established under
the bill. However, the State’s ability to collect these revenues has
historically been limited.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill would criminalize the use of signal jammers under State law. Such devices are already illegal under federal law.
Signal jammers are radio frequency transmitters designed to block, jam, or otherwise interfere with authorized radio communications. These devices can prevent cell phones from making or receiving calls, texts, and emails; block Wi-Fi devices from connecting to the Internet; prevent a GPS from receiving correct positioning signals; and prevent a first responder from locating a person in an emergency.
Under current law, it is a crime of the fourth degree to: (1) make, or cause to be made, a radio transmission of energy in this State unless the person obtains a license, or an exemption from licensure, from the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to applicable federal law or regulation, or (2) do any act to cause an unlicensed radio transmission of energy or interference with a public or commercial radio station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission or to enable the radio transmission of energy or interference to occur.
This bill provides that it would also be a crime of the fourth degree to interfere with or cause interference to any radio communications of any station licensed or authorized by or under any federal law or regulation or operated by the United States government; or, in violation of federal law or regulation, to use any scanning receiver that is capable of:
(1) receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio telecommunications service,
(2) readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies, or
(3) being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that the bill would result in an indeterminate increase in annual State and local expenditures. The OLS lacks sufficient information to quantify the fiscal impact of this bill, as it is not possible to know how many individuals are likely to commit the new criminal offense established by the bill.
A crime of the fourth degree is typically punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. There is, however, a presumption of non-incarceration for first time offenders of a crime of the fourth degree. The following State and local agencies would or may incur 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. Based on information provided by the Department of Corrections, the FY 2023 average cost for housing, ensuring security, and providing services to an incarcerated individual was $75,574, with an average daily cost was $207.
The OLS also notes that the State may receive indeterminate revenues from court filing fees, fines, and penalties for the crime established under the bill. However, the State’s ability to collect these revenues has historically been limited.
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Section: |
Judiciary |
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Analyst: |
Senior Fiscal Analyst |
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Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).