SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3529

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 8, 2026

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 3529.

      As reported, this bill would criminalize the use of “signal jammers” under State law.  The use of such devices is already illegal under federal law.  See 47 U.S.C. ss.301, 302a, and 333; 47 U.S.C. 501 et seq. (penalties).

      “Signal jammers,” which are also known as signal blockers, GPS jammers, cell phone jammers, and text blockers, are radio frequency transmitters that are 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 (FCC) 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 FCC or to enable the radio transmission of energy or interference to occur.

      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.

      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 IMPACT:

      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.

      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.