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Bill > A3685
NJ A3685
NJ A3685Requires AG to defend challenges to certain municipal ordinances that establish residency requirements for convicted sex offenders.
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
Many municipalities throughout New Jersey have either passed or introduced ordinances that ban convicted sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers, and other areas where children congregate. These municipalities lack adequate funding to defend legal challenges against sex offender residency requirements. This bill would require the Attorney General to promulgate a model municipal ordinance that establishes residency restrictions for convicted sex offenders. Under the bill, the model ordinance shall not contain provisions that would violate an individual's constitutional right to travel or require individuals to move from their current residence. The Attorney General would be required to defend any civil action brought by a plaintiff that challenges a municipal ordinance that is identical to the model ordinance. The Attorney General would provide this legal representation at no cost to the municipality.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Attorney General to create a sample ordinance for municipalities that would restrict where convicted sex offenders, specifically those assessed as moderate or high risk of re-offending, can live, but this sample ordinance cannot violate an individual's right to travel or force them to move from their current home. Furthermore, the Attorney General will be obligated to defend any municipality that adopts an ordinance identical to this model ordinance against any legal challenges, providing this legal defense at no expense to the municipality, which is intended to help local governments that may lack the resources to fight such lawsuits.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary 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/A3685 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4000/3685_I1.HTM |
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