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 requires children's Halloween costumes sold at retail to have reflective material that is 1) attached to the costume, or 2) packaged with the costume to be subsequently attached by the buyer. Reflective material increases visibility in unsafe situations and helps to reduce the risk of consequential accidents due to low visibility or darkness. A person who sells a child's Halloween costume without reflective material would pay a penalty of not more than $500 for the first offense and not more than $1,000 for each subsequent offense. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to purchase or make costumes that are brightly colored and clearly visible to motorists. Consumers should decorate or trim costumes and treat bags with reflective tape that glows in the beam of a car's headlights. The commission also recommends that bags or sacks be brightly colored or decorated with reflective tape. According to the CPSC, hundreds of Halloween-related injuries are reported each year. Incidents involve burns, lacerations from pumpkin-carving, falls related to ill-fitting costumes, and injuries from collisions due to impaired vision. Requiring reflective material on costumes marketed to and used by children improves the safety of trick-or-treaters and drivers on Halloween night.
AI Summary
This bill requires that any Halloween costume sold for children, defined as individuals under 18 years old, must include reflective material, which is defined as anything that is highly visible in low light such as reflective tape, fabric, or decorative patches. This reflective material can either be directly attached to the costume or provided with it in its packaging for the buyer to attach later. The purpose of this requirement is to increase visibility in dark conditions, thereby reducing the risk of accidents for trick-or-treaters and drivers. Sellers who fail to comply with this rule will face a penalty of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for any subsequent offenses. The bill will become effective immediately and will apply to children's Halloween costumes sold after November 15th of the year it is enacted.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs 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/A1881 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A2000/1881_I1.HTM |
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