ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2163

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 22, 2026

      The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2163.

      As reported, this bill expands the kind of establishments that are required to post public awareness signage developed by the Commission on Human Trafficking (commission) to include:  gas stations; staffing agencies; State, county, and municipal law enforcement offices; nail salons; and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices.  The bill also explicitly requires signs to be maintained, in addition to displayed, and requires businesses and establishments to replace signs that are removed or defaced within 10 days of the business or establishment receiving notice of the sign’s removal or defacement.

      Under current law, the commission is required to develop a public awareness sign containing the national, 24-hour toll-free hotline telephone service on human trafficking.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill will have no impact on State expenditures.  The bill expands the list of establishments which are required to post public awareness signage developed by the Commission on Human Trafficking regarding human trafficking.  The commission already provides a printable public awareness sign in English and Spanish for business owners on its website.  Thus, there would be no associated costs for developing and designing a sign.

      Since the bill expands the list of establishments required to post a public awareness sign on human trafficking, it potentially could result in a marginal increase in revenues by way of civil penalties imposed on establishments that do not comply.  However, the State’s ability to collect fines has historically been limited.