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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey Bill A220 Expands Human Trafficking Laws to Include Juvenile Gang and Drug Recruitment
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary CommitteeSponsors: Dawn Fantasia and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Assembly Bill 220 expands New Jersey's human trafficking statute to include recruiting, coercing, or using juveniles to participate in criminal street gangs or drug distribution schemes. The measure classifies human trafficking as a first-degree crime carrying mandatory minimum prison terms of 20 years and minimum fines of $25,000, while also adding human trafficking to the list of offenses permitting prosecutors to seek juvenile waiver to adult court.
Changes criminal penalties and prosecution pathways for individuals who recruit minors into gangs or drug operations, establishing mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years and expanding civil liability under state racketeering laws for victims.
- Assembly Bill 220 was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026 New Jersey legislative session and referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. context
- The bill is named 'Weston's Law' in honor of Weston Fundner, who died in 2022 at age 15 from a fentanyl overdose after being coerced by another teenager involved in the illegal drug trade. context
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.
Juveniles
Minors are subject to enhanced protections against gang and drug recruitment under human trafficking laws, as well as potential waiver to adult court for qualifying offenses.
County prosecutors
Prosecutors receive additional statutory authority to bring human trafficking charges for juvenile gang and drug recruitment and to seek juvenile waivers to adult court.
Human trafficking victims
Victims are eligible for mandatory restitution based on labor value and expanded civil recovery options under state racketeering laws.
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
What changes under Weston's Law regarding human trafficking?
What are the penalties for human trafficking under this bill?
Can juveniles accused of human trafficking be tried as adults?
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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 Judiciary 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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Human Trafficking to Gang and Drug Recruitment
The legislation formally bridges traditional human trafficking statutes with street gang and illegal drug distribution laws by criminalizing the recruitment of minors into those activities as first-degree human trafficking.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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