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NJ A1951
Bill
Status
Introduced
1/13/2026
Primary Sponsor
Annette Quijano
Click for details
AI Summary
- Establishes a two-year Statewide Animal Advocate Program within the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to appoint advocates in criminal animal cruelty and dog fighting cases
- Courts may appoint volunteer attorneys or law students to represent the best interests of animals, with advocates selected from AOC-maintained lists of qualified individuals
- Advocates are authorized to monitor cases, attend hearings, access veterinary and police records, and make sentencing statements regarding the crime's impact on the animal
- The AOC Director must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature after two years with recommendations on whether to continue the program
- The program takes effect six months after enactment and automatically expires after two years, modeled after Connecticut's "Desmond's Law"
Legislative Description
Establishes Animal Advocate Program in AOC.
Judiciary
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee
1/13/2026
Committee Referrals
Judiciary1/13/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available