New Jersey 222nd Legislature Status: Introduced 1 D cosponsors

S 4574 — Establishes offense of harassing, intimidating, or bullying minor; establishes diversionary program for juveniles charged with offense.

Last action — INT 1RS REF SJU

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed General Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced September 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Not enough signal yet

Not enough signal yet to read this bill's trajectory — we surface a likelihood only once there's real movement (stage, sponsorship, committee, or votes) to point to.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill establishes an offense for harassing or bullying minors and creates a diversion program for juveniles charged.

This legislation makes it an offense to harass, intimidate, or bully a minor. It also introduces a diversionary program for juvenile offenders to address these charges without going through traditional court processes.

Summary

Harassing/intimidating/bullying minor-estab offense & diversionary program

Bill Text

  • Introduced View text Current html September 29, 2026

How this bill changes current law

3 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 3 section(s) of the New Jersey statutes: N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-71; N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-71.1; N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-73.

  • N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-71

    his and → the juvenile's There shall be a presumption that a complaint alleging a petty disorderly persons offense of harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor pursuant to subsection c. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be diverted. If the court has approved diversion of the complaint, and the offense was committed in a jurisdiction in which there is an applicable existing restorative and transformative justice program including, but not limited to a restorative justice hub pursuant to the Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program, P.L.2021, c.196, the matter shall be diverted for resolution to the restorative and transformative justice program. Pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.2011, c.128 (C.2A:4A-71.1), any resolution of the complaint shall include the juvenile's participation in a remedial education or counseling program which satisfies the requirements of subsection e. of section 2 of P.L.2011, c.128 (C.2A:4A-71.1). ; (12) The amenability of the juvenile to participation in a remedial education or counseling program that satisfies the requirements of subsection e. of section 2 of P.L.2011, c.128 (C.2A:4A-71.1) if the offense alleged is an eligible offense as defined in subsection d. of section 2 of P.L.2011, c.128 (C.2A:4A-71.1); and (13) The eligibility and amenability of the juvenile to participation in an applicable existing restorative and transformative justice program including, but not limited to, a restorative justice hub established pursuant to the Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youths and Communities Pilot Program, P.L.2021, c.196 if the offense alleged is an eligible offense as defined in subsection d. of section 2 of P.L.2011, c.128 (C.2A:4A-71.1)

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-71.1

    P.L.2011, c.128 → involving sexually explicit or suggestive materials or an eligible offense involving harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor as defined in subsection d. of this section, or subsection e. , as appropriate for an offense involving sexually explicit or suggestive materials subsection a. of this section involving sexually explicit or suggestive materials d. As used in this section, "eligible offense involving harassment, intimidation, or bullying" means an offense of harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). e. A remedial education or counseling program for an offense committed by a minor that, if committed by an adult, would constitute an eligible offense involving harassment, intimidation, or bullying satisfies the requirements of subsection a. of this section if the program is designed to increase the juvenile's awareness of: (1) the legal consequences and penalties for harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor, including applicable federal and State statutes; (2) the non-legal consequences of harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor including, but not limited to, the effect on relationships, loss of educational and employment opportunities, and being barred or removed from school programs and extracurricular activities; (3) the potential of long-term and unforeseen consequences for harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor; and (4) the possible connection between cyber-bullying and harassing, intimidating, or bullying a minor.

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-73

    There shall be a presumption that a complaint alleging a petty disorderly persons offense pursuant to subsection c. of section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be diverted in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1982, c.77 (C.2A:4A-71).

    amended

Action History

  1. INT 1RS REF SJU

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 119 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (119)

119 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 119 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 4574 do?
Harassing/intimidating/bullying minor-estab offense & diversionary program
Who sponsors S 4574?
S 4574 is sponsored by Cruz-Perez, Nilsa I. (Democrat).
What is the current status of S 4574?
This bill has been introduced in the Senate. Introduced September 28, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 4574?
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