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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey establishes official definition and examples of antisemitism for training and law enforcement
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness CommitteeSponsors: Gary Schaer and 48 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Assembly Bill 617 establishes a formal State definition of antisemitism and outlines 11 contemporary examples, taking effect 30 days following enactment. The definition serves as an educational, training, and advisory tool for public officials, law enforcement personnel, and educators. Law enforcement must consider this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether a state or federal anti-bias law violation was motivated by antisemitic intent.
Law enforcement agencies and public schools in New Jersey must incorporate the state-backed definition and its 11 examples into anti-bias investigations, training programs, and educational curricula, while constitutional free speech protections remain fully applicable.
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 personnel
Law enforcement personnel must take the newly established definition and examples of antisemitism into consideration when investigating and determining antisemitic intent in bias violations.
public officials and educators
Public officials and educators will use the definition and examples as a tool for training, education, and public awareness campaigns.
Jewish communities
Jewish individuals, institutions, and religious facilities are the subjects of the protective framework and definition aimed at addressing hate incidents and bias crimes.
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
Does this bill change or restrict free speech rights?
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Does criticizing the government of Israel violate this definition?
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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
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Adoption of International Standard into State Statute
The bill formalizes the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition into New Jersey statutory law to guide state law enforcement and public education.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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