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Bill > S213
NJ S213
NJ S213Establishes crime of law enforcement officer choking another person; designated as George Floyd's Law.
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 establishes a first degree crime of a law enforcement officer choking another person. Under the bill, a law enforcement officer who knowingly places pressure on a person's throat, windpipe, or carotid artery, thereby hindering or preventing that person's ability to breathe, or interfering with the flow of blood from the person's heart to the brain, is guilty of a crime of the first degree. First degree crimes are punishable by a prison term of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both. On June 5, 2020, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General issued notice that it will ban police departments from using chokeholds, carotid artery neck restraints, or similar tactics, except where deadly force is necessary. This bill prohibits these chokeholds. The bill is designated as George Floyd's Law, after George Floyd, who died while being choked by a Minneapolis law enforcement officer during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill.
AI Summary
This bill, designated as George Floyd's Law, establishes a new first-degree crime for law enforcement officers who knowingly choke another person, meaning they intentionally apply pressure to the throat, windpipe, or carotid artery (a major blood vessel in the neck) in a way that obstructs breathing or blood flow to the brain. A first-degree crime in this context carries a severe penalty of 10 to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $200,000, or both, and it aligns with a previous directive from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General to ban such tactics except in situations where deadly force is absolutely necessary, thereby prohibiting chokeholds and similar restraints.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety 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/S213 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S0500/213_I1.HTM |
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