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A 5246

Excludes volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services employees from the permissive use of marijuana

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 8 co-sponsors

Provides a safe harbor for trapping licensees: during active law enforcement investigations when ordered to vacate, DEP cannot issue a failure-to-check trap violation.

REFERRED TO LABOR
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Bill Summary · A 5246

Summary of New Jersey Bill A 5246 (Introduced Jan. 30, 2025)

Note: The introduced text for A 5246 concerns trapping regulations, not marijuana policy. The bill’s title in the listing mentions “Excludes volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services employees from the permissive use of marijuana,” but the introduced version and its statement of purpose address trapping violations and enforcement exemptions. This summary follows the introduced version content.

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 5246
  • Introduced: January 30, 2025
  • Status: Referred to LABOR (also noted as referred to Labor in subsequent legislative actions)
  • Primary focus: Provides an enforcement exemption for trapping licensees under certain law enforcement circumstances, modifying how violations are assessed when a trap is not checked due to an active investigation.

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill would prohibit the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or other enforcers authorized to enforce trapping provisions from issuing a violation to a trapping licensee for failing to check a trap within the required time period if:
    • the trap is in an area subject to a law enforcement investigation, and
    • the licensee has been instructed by a federal, State, or local law enforcement agent to vacate the area.
  • In short, it creates a safe harbor from “failure to check” violations during active investigations where licensees are directed to vacate the area.

Key Provisions

  1. Protection from Violations During Investigations

    • If a trap is in an area under law enforcement investigation and the licensee is ordered to vacate, DEP or other enforcers cannot issue a violation for failure to check the trap within the required timeframe.

  2. Reference to Existing Regulations

    • The bill refers to N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.12(i), which currently requires:
      • Traps set or in use must be checked, tended, and maintained at least once per calendar day for trapping semi-aquatic species in tidal areas.
      • At least once in every 24 hours for all other trapping.
    • The proposed exemption applies specifically when the area is under investigation and the licensee is ordered to leave.

  3. Effective Date

    • Takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected Parties

  • Trapping licensees: Hunters/trappers licensed under the State Fish and Game Code.
  • Enforcement agencies: Department of Environmental Protection and other authorized enforcers under Title 23, chapter 4, and the State Fish and Game Code.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: Jan 30, 2025
  • Committee path: Referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee; subsequently cataloged as referred to LABOR (labor committee) in actions dated Feb 12, 2025.
  • Effective date: Immediate (upon enactment).

Legislative Actions and Sponsorship

  • Primary Sponsor: Joe DeStefano
  • Cosponsors: John Lemondes, Brian Manktelow, Eric Brown, Doug Smith, Jodi Giglio, Keith Brown, Joe Angelino, John K. Mikulin
  • Related/Companion Bills:
    • S 4092 (companion)
    • S 4618 (companion)
    • A 9292 (prior-session)
    • A 3487 (prior-session)

Observations and Context

  • The bill narrowly revises enforcement outcomes rather than altering the underlying daily-check requirements.
  • It provides a practical protection for trapping licensees operating in areas temporarily unavailable due to law enforcement activity.
  • There is an apparent mismatch between the bill’s titled policy (marijuana permissive-use) and the introduced content (trapping enforcement). The summary here focuses on the introduced trapping provisions, as published.

If you’d like, I can also provide a side-by-side comparison with current law (N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.12(i)) or track how the bill progresses through committee stages.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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