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Bill > S1189
NJ S1189
NJ S1189Requires automatic voter registration to be available when applying for certain licenses and permits.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the establishment of an automatic voter registration process at an agency, office, or local police force providing certain licenses and permits. The bill requires the automatic voter registration process to be available for persons applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, all around sportsman licenses, beaver trapping, wild turkey, or deer permits under the Division of Fish and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection, and firearms purchaser identification cards or permits to carry handguns at local police forces or the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety. The bill requires the respective agencies, offices, and local police forces to establish an automatic voter registration process similar to that currently applicable at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). The bill also adds licenses to operate a power vessel, also known as boating licenses, under the NJMVC's current automatic voter registration process. Under the bill, any agency, office, or local police force that provides the above mentioned licenses and permits, that the Secretary of State verifies already collects documents that would provide proof of eligibility, including age, citizenship, and residence address, would be required to establish and implement, upon approval by the Secretary of State, a procedure for automatically and electronically transmitting voter registration information to the Secretary of State of persons who are eligible to vote for the purpose of registering such persons to vote or updating their voter registration. Each person from whom voter registration information is collected would be offered an opportunity to decline automatic voter registration. The bill requires compliance with the automatic voter registration requirements established under current law for the NJMVC, including the provision of required notices to their clients, to the extent applicable as determined by the Secretary of State.
AI Summary
This bill expands automatic voter registration, a system where eligible individuals applying for certain licenses or permits are automatically registered to vote unless they opt out, to include those applying for hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses, various sportsman licenses, and specific permits related to wildlife from the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife. It also extends this to individuals applying for firearms purchaser identification cards or permits to carry handguns at local police departments or the State Police. The bill mandates that these agencies, if they already collect necessary proof of eligibility like age and residency, must implement an automatic voter registration process similar to the one already in place at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) for driver's licenses. Additionally, it adds licenses to operate a power vessel, commonly known as boating licenses, to the NJMVC's existing automatic voter registration process. All these agencies will be required to provide clear notices to applicants about their right to decline automatic voter registration and must follow established procedures for transmitting voter information to the Secretary of State, mirroring the requirements for the NJMVC.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (4)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S1189 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S1500/1189_I1.HTM |
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