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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey bill mandates self-defense training for police recruits and officers and allocates $250,000
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness CommitteeSponsors: Brian Bergen and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
State, county, and municipal law enforcement officers and recruits in New Jersey are required to complete mandatory self-defense training courses, backed by a $250,000 to the Police Training Commission. Recruits must complete scheduled instruction during basic training and a final 40-hour course, while active officers must complete 48 hours of annual in-service training that does not qualify for overtime compensation.
Police departments across the state must adjust training schedules and absorb non-overtime instructional hours for all sworn personnel, while the Police Training Commission receives $250,000 to establish the curriculum.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Law enforcement officers
Active State, county, and municipal officers must complete 48 hours of annual in-service self-defense training that does not qualify for overtime compensation.
Law enforcement officer recruits
Recruits must complete scheduled weekly instruction and a 40-hour final self-defense course during basic training.
Police Training Commission
The commission is tasked with establishing the training courses, adopting administrative rules, and receiving a $250,000 appropriation.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is required to take the new self-defense training?
How many hours of training are active officers required to complete each year?
Does time spent on annual in-service training count toward overtime pay?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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