Bill
Bill > A1902
NJ A1902
NJ A1902Permits municipal, county, and regional police and fire forces to establish five-year residency requirement for police officers and firefighters; allows exceptions to requirement 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 would permit a municipality to adopt an ordinance prohibiting an applicant from obtaining employment with the municipal police department, paid fire department, or part-paid fire department unless the applicant agrees to remain a resident of the municipality for the first five years of employment. Under this bill, county and regional police and fire forces would also have the power to institute a residency requirement. In any municipality with such an ordinance, the applicant would have six months from the date the applicant begins their official duties, following all requisite training, to relocate to the municipality, county, or region served by the force. The bill would allow an exception to this residency requirement if any member of the fire department or police department suffers injury, or a threat of injury, to the member's person, family, or property, committed by another who acts with purpose to: (1) intimidate the member because of their status as a member; (2) manipulate an investigation; or (3) otherwise influence the member to violate their official duty.
AI Summary
This bill allows municipal, county, and regional police and fire departments to implement a five-year residency requirement for new hires, meaning applicants must agree to live within the municipality, county, or region they serve for the first five years of their employment. New hires will have six months from their first official day of duty, after completing all necessary training, to establish residency. The bill also provides exceptions to this residency rule for any police or fire department member who experiences injury, or a threat of injury, to themselves, their family, or their property due to actions intended to intimidate them because of their job, manipulate an investigation, or influence them to violate their official duties. This change applies to both paid and part-paid fire departments and police forces, and also extends to regional forces established by joint meetings, which are public bodies created to provide essential governmental functions.
Committee Categories
Military Affairs and Security
Sponsors (4)
Eliana Pintor Marin (D)*,
Cleopatra Tucker (D)*,
Clinton Calabrese (D),
Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness 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/A1902 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A2000/1902_I1.HTM |
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