Bill
Bill > A416
NJ A416
NJ A416"Honoring and Listening to Our First Responders Act"; establishes offense of interfering with official duties of first responder under certain circumstances.
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 the "Honoring and Listening to Our First Responders Act" or the "HALO Act." This bill provides that it is a disorderly persons offense for a person to disregard a request from a first responder to maintain distance and to knowingly approach or remain within 25 feet of the first responder with the purpose to: · obstruct, impair, or interfere with the first responder's performance of official duties; or· interfere with the first responder's performance of official duties by threatening, intimidating, or harassing the first responder. Under the bill, "first responder" would include any law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, or paid or volunteer member of a duly incorporated first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad association. A disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The bill provides that prosecution and conviction for an offense under the bill would not preclude the prosecution and conviction of a person under any other applicable provision of law.
AI Summary
This bill, known as the "Honoring and Listening to Our First Responders Act" or the "HALO Act," establishes a new offense where a person can be charged with a disorderly persons offense, which carries a penalty of up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both, if they knowingly approach or remain within 25 feet of a first responder after being asked to maintain distance, with the intent to obstruct, impair, or interfere with the first responder's official duties, or to do so by threatening, intimidating, or harassing them. A "first responder" is defined broadly to include law enforcement officers, firefighters (paid or volunteer), and members of first aid, emergency, ambulance, or rescue squads. Importantly, this law does not prevent someone from being prosecuted under other existing laws if their actions also violate them.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A416 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A0500/416_I1.HTM |
Loading...