The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey bill restricts public records access to police body camera footage
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness CommitteeSponsor: Paul Kanitra
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What This Bill Would Do
New Jersey restricts public disclosure of police recordings under the open public records law, permitting access only to individuals who are direct subjects of the recording or their legal next of kin.
Members of the general public and commercial entities lose the ability to obtain police body camera footage through public records requests, while individuals directly involved in recorded incidents retain access rights.
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
Officers are directly affected because interactions captured on body worn cameras are restricted from general public records disclosure.
General public and commercial entities
General requesters lose access to body worn camera footage under open public records laws unless they qualify as a direct subject of the recording.
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 allowed to request body worn camera footage under this bill?
Does this bill prevent private individuals from recording law enforcement interactions themselves?
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
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Restriction of Open Records for Police Video
The bill carves out a specific new exemption within state open records laws exclusively for body worn camera footage.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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