Bill
Bill > A3174
NJ A3174
NJ A3174"Murphy's Law"; nullifies Governor's order, rule, or regulation to address declared emergency, or relevant portion thereof, when Governor violates same; creates affirmative defense to prosecution for same violation committed by Governor.
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, designated "Murphy's Law," would nullify any order, rule, or regulation, or relevant portion thereof, adopted by the Governor to address a declared state of emergency in accordance with P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.), if the Governor violates the Governor's own order, rule, or regulation. Additionally, it would create an affirmative defense to prosecution for violating any such order, rule, or regulation, or aiding and abetting a violation, when the Governor committed the same violation (a violation is a disorderly persons offense, punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both). The bill would take effect immediately, and apply to any prosecution initiated prior to the effective date for which a final judgment has not been rendered, and any prosecution initiated on and after that date.
AI Summary
This bill, known as "Murphy's Law," would nullify any order, rule, or regulation, or a part of it, issued by the Governor to address a declared state of emergency if the Governor themselves violates that same order, rule, or regulation. Furthermore, it establishes a defense against being prosecuted for violating such an order, rule, or regulation, or for helping someone else violate it, if the Governor committed the identical violation. A violation of these rules is currently considered a disorderly persons offense, which can result in up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. This bill would become effective immediately and would apply to any ongoing legal cases where a final decision hasn't been made, as well as any new cases filed from that point forward.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (5)
Gerry Scharfenberger (R)*,
Jay Webber (R)*,
John DiMaio (R),
Antwan McClellan (R),
Erik Simonsen (R),
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government 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/A3174 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3500/3174_I1.HTM |
Loading...