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Read. Follow. Verify.New Jersey Bill A446 Raises Firearm Safety Age Requirement to 18 and Mandates Law Enforcement Follow-up
Last action · January 13, 2026: Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary CommitteeSponsor: Venezia, Michael
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What This Bill Would Do
Assembly Bill 446 raises the age definition of a minor from under 16 to under 18 regarding unsecured firearm storage laws and requires law enforcement officers who observe unsecured firearms to conduct a follow-up visit to the premises.
Firearm owners face potential s if individuals under 18 gain access to improperly stored weapons, extending legal liability and storage compliance obligations for households with teenagers.
- New Jersey's original child-access prevention law (P.L.1991, c.397) was established to penalize firearm owners who leave loaded weapons accessible to children under 16. context
- Michael Venezia serves as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly representing Legislative District 34. 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.
Firearm owners
Firearm owners must comply with secure storage requirements for minors up to age 18 and are subject to mandatory law enforcement follow-up visits if non-compliance is observed.
Law enforcement officers
Law enforcement officers are mandated to conduct follow-up visits to premises where unsecured firearms have been observed.
Minors under the age of 18
Minors aged 16 and 17 are newly included under safe firearm storage protections restricting accessible loaded weapons.
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 is required of law enforcement officers under this bill?
What are the approved methods for storing a firearm under the law?
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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 Minor Age Bracket in Firearm Storage Law
The legislation broadens the scope of New Jersey's 1991 safe storage statute by moving the protected age ceiling from 16 to 18.
Connected Entities
Sources
njleg.state.nj.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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