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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey Bill Repeals Municipal Public Defender Application Fees
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary CommitteeSponsors: Gary Schaer and 7 others
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What This Bill Would Do
New Jersey municipalities are prohibited from charging an application fee of up to $200 for representation by a , effective immediately upon enactment.
Eliminates the statutory authority allowing local governments to collect application fees from individuals seeking publicly provided legal defense in municipal courts.
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.
Individuals applying for representation by a municipal public defender
New Jersey municipalities
Municipalities lose the statutory authority to impose and collect application fees for municipal public defender services.
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
Can New Jersey towns still charge an application fee for a public defender?
When does this change take effect?
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 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
Show 3 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance55How 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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