Bill
A 4974
Expands machine gun definition to include conversion parts and makes possessing, manufacturing, or selling conversion devices (and related parts) a third-degree crime.
Note on title discrepancy
- The heading you provided names A4974 as a cannabis awareness measure, but the legislative text and accompanying documents all concern firearm components and machine‑gun conversion devices. This summary covers the actual bill text and analyses provided (firearm components).
Purpose and intent
- To strengthen New Jersey’s criminal law regarding machine guns by (1) broadening the statutory definition of a “machine gun” to cover certain conversion parts and receivers/frames, and (2) creating specific criminal offenses for possession, sale, manufacture, transport, shipment, or disposal of devices that convert semi‑automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons (commonly called machine‑gun conversion devices), as well as related devices (bump stocks, trigger cranks).
Key provisions and changes
- Redefinition of “machine gun” (amends N.J.S.2C:39‑1):
- Adds that a machine gun includes the frame or receiver of such a firearm, any part or combination of parts designed and intended solely or primarily to convert a firearm into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if in a person’s possession or control.
- Continues to include firearms with trigger cranks or conversion devices attached.
- New/clarified offenses:
- Defines “machine gun conversion device” (device designed/intended to modify a semi‑automatic firearm to fire more than one shot per single trigger pull).
- Establishes a third‑degree offense for knowingly possessing a machine‑gun conversion device — punishable by 3–5 years imprisonment and up to $15,000 fine. Possession is criminalized regardless of whether the person also possesses a firearm to which it can be affixed.
- Clarifies that possession of machine‑gun conversion devices, bump stocks, and trigger cranks without an accompanying firearm is a third‑degree offense.
- Establishes a third‑degree offense for manufacturing, transporting, shipping, selling, or disposing of a machine‑gun conversion device (same penalties).
- Reaffirms that a firearm affixed with a conversion device constitutes a machine gun; possession of a machine gun is a second‑degree crime (existing law) punishable by 5–10 years imprisonment and up to $150,000 fine. The bill provides that the sentence for possessing a conversion device may run consecutively with sentences for assault firearm or machine gun possession.
Who is affected
- Individuals who possess, sell, manufacture, transport, ship, or dispose of machine‑gun conversion devices, bump stocks, and trigger cranks in New Jersey.
- Retailers and online sellers dealing in such parts or devices.
- Law enforcement, county prosecutors, public defenders, the Judiciary, Department of Corrections, and State Parole Board — all will experience expanded caseloads and related costs.
- Public safety agencies (State Police, Dept. of Law & Public Safety) will have enforcement and guidance responsibilities.
Fiscal and enforcement impact
- Office of Legislative Services (OLS): Indeterminate increase in annual State and local expenditures and indeterminate increases in State revenue (fines). OLS cannot quantify impacts because the number of potential prosecutions is unknown.
- Agencies affected: Department of Law & Public Safety; county prosecutors; Judiciary; Office of the Public Defender; Department of Corrections; State Parole Board.
- OLS notes potential incarceration cost exposure (FY2023 average annual cost per incarcerated person cited ~$75,254 in one estimate) and that additional weapons‑related incarcerations could increase facility populations.
- Contextual data cited by OLS: federal records show >5,400 machine‑gun conversion parts recovered nationwide from 2017–2021 (a large increase vs. prior period); conversion devices are widely available online and affordable.
Legislative status and timeline (selected)
- Introduced in Assembly: 10/21/2024
- Referred to Assembly Judiciary, then Appropriations; amended by Assembly Appropriations Committee (3/20/2025)
- Passed Assembly: 3/24/2025 (vote: 53–22–3)
- Received in Senate: 5/12/2025; referred to Senate Law & Public Safety
- Reported favorably out of Senate Law & Public Safety Committee (2nd reading): 6/19/2025
- Next procedural step: await full Senate floor consideration (if not already taken).
Sponsors and related bills
- Primary sponsor: Assemblywoman Stefani Zinerman; multiple cosponsors including Nikki Lucas, MaryJane Shimsky, Alicia Hyndman, Andrew Hevesi, Philip Ramos, and others.
- Companion/related bills: S3893 (companion), S5755 (companion), prior-session A9316.
Committee amendments
- Revised and clarified the definitions of “machine gun” and “machine gun conversion device,” and clarified that possession of conversion devices, bump stocks, and trigger cranks without a firearm is a third‑degree crime.
Bottom line
- A4974 expands New Jersey’s statutory definition of machine guns to include conversion parts and establishes new third‑degree offenses for possession, sale, manufacture, and distribution of devices that convert semi‑automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. The bill aims to close a gap in state law noted by investigators and to criminalize readily available conversion devices; it will increase criminal enforcement and judicial workloads, with an indeterminate fiscal impact.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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