ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3850

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 15, 2025

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3850.

      As amended and reported, this bill permits county boards of elections to extend the distance within which electioneering is prohibited outside a polling place, room, or ballot drop box in use during the conduct of an election.

     Under current law, electioneering is prohibited inside any polling place or room, and within a distance of 100 feet of the outside entrance to a polling place or room, or within 100 feet of a ballot drop box in use during the conduct of an election.  This bill grants county boards of elections the discretion to extend the distance prohibiting electioneering to be within 200 feet of the outside entrance to any polling place or room, or of a ballot drop box in use during the conduct of an election within the county.  The bill requires county boards of elections to place a clear and conspicuous notice of the prohibition outside the polling place or room or ballot drop box prior to placing the prohibition into effect, including the penalties for any violation of the prohibition. A person who violates an electioneering prohibition established by a county board of elections as provided under the bill will be guilty of a crime of the same degree as currently established for a violation of the 100 feet prohibition.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 3850 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 5356 (1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments make technical changes to the bill to update a section of the bill to reflect current law.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.