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S 2621

Limits the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority with regard to the number of tolls charged on trucks

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham and 3 co-sponsors

Allows a place of worship to designate one armed individual during services, trained and secured for attendee protection, with strict compliance and no blanket carry rights.

PRINT NUMBER 2621A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2621

Summary — S 2621

Status: Introduced in the Senate; referred to committee (first introduced 2025-07-31). Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (state-level text). Committee activity through October 2025 (reported favorably by Veterans & Federal Affairs committee; discharged to Rules).

Note on source material: The provided file combines multiple, different texts (a New Jersey statutory amendment creating a place-of-worship security exception and unrelated federal amendments to the Public Health Service Act regarding maternal health funding and CDC guidance). This summary focuses on the core S 2621 provision as presented — the New Jersey supplement to N.J.S.2C:39-6 — and notes the unrelated federal provisions separately.

Purpose

To authorize the governing body of a place of worship to create a security program that permits one designated individual to carry a handgun on the premises during religious services for the purpose of protecting attendees.

Key provisions

  • Definitions

    • “Place of worship”: a building (e.g., church, mosque, synagogue) used primarily for worship by a recognized religious sect or denomination registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
    • “Religious service”: an assembly of adherents of such a registered religious organization for prayer or religious observance.

  • Authorization and scope

    • The governing body of a place of worship may establish a security program that allows one person to carry a handgun to protect attendees during services held on the premises.
    • The selected person may be a volunteer or paid; this does not prevent the place of worship from employing armed security under the Security Officer Registration Act (P.L.2004, c.134).

  • Training and qualifications

    • The selected person must participate in a firearms training course on use, handling, and maintenance provided by one of:
    • The Police Training Commission,
    • The Director of Civilian Marksmanship, or
    • A recognized rifle/pistol association that certifies instructors.
    • If a law enforcement officer or any person already authorized to carry at all times under N.J.S.2C:39-6 is selected, that person is not required to complete the subsection d training.

  • Travel and storage

    • The handgun must be secured while traveling directly to and from the place of worship in accordance with the referenced subsection of N.J.S.2C:39-6.

  • Limitations

    • The act does not authorize carrying in violation of other provisions of N.J.S.2C:39-6 or N.J.S.2C:58-4 (i.e., does not create a blanket right to carry where otherwise prohibited).

  • Statutory amendment

    • The bill supplements and amends N.J.S.2C:39-6 to add this exception/authorization (text includes amendment to the list of persons exempt from the prohibitions in that section).

Who is affected

  • Places of worship (501(c)(3) religious entities) and their governing bodies (who may adopt such a program).
  • Individuals selected to carry (volunteers, paid security, or law enforcement).
  • Worship attendees (potentially increased armed security presence).
  • Law enforcement and regulators (training, oversight, and enforcement regarding compliance with existing firearms laws).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Public safety: could provide an armed on-site deterrent/response option for congregations; training requirement aims to mitigate risk.
  • Legal and liability: religious organizations must ensure compliance with state firearms laws and may face insurance, liability, and civil-risk implications when authorizing armed individuals.
  • Interaction with existing law: does not override other statutory prohibitions; municipalities, places of worship, and insurers may adopt additional policies.
  • Administrative: places of worship would need to establish procedures for selection, training documentation, storage/transit practices, and whether the armed person is compensated.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced 2025-07-31; read twice and referred to committee. Committee reports and rule referrals occurred in Oct. 2025 per provided actions.
  • Sponsors (as listed in the file) include Shelley Moore Capito (primary) and multiple cosponsors. Related companion bills listed: S 891, H.R. 1768, H.R. 1909.

Unrelated material in document

  • The provided package also contains unrelated federal language amending Section 317K of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–12) to (a) broaden clinical specialties referenced, (b) require the CDC to disseminate maternal mortality prevention best practices annually, and (c) raise authorized funding from $58,000,000 (FY2019–2023) to $100,000,000 for each of FY2026–2030. These federal provisions are not directly related to the New Jersey statute change authorizing armed individuals at places of worship.

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

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