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A 5969

Permits the rendering of an estimated bill from a utility corporation or municipality under certain circumstances

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Eachus and 5 co-sponsors

Creates a trauma-informed path for abuse victims to petition to expunge convictions when abuse contributed to the offense; excludes murder and Megan's Law crimes.

SUBSTITUTED BY S2182A
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Bill Summary · A 5969

Assembly Bill A5969 — Summary (Introduced Version)

Note: The bill metadata provided lists a different short title (relating to estimated utility bills). The text of the introduced version made available here is instead an expungement reform bill that would create a pathway for certain defendants who were victims of abuse to seek expungement. This summary describes the expungement bill text as introduced.

Main purpose

Allow persons convicted of certain offenses — who were victims of domestic violence or substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, and whose abuse was a contributing factor to their conviction — to petition the Superior Court to have those convictions (or juvenile adjudications) expunged.

Who is eligible / who is excluded

  • Eligible: A person convicted of an offense or other violation (including juvenile adjudications) where domestic violence or substantial abuse contributed to the conviction.
  • Excluded: Convictions for murder and crimes requiring sex-offender registration pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1994, c.133 (C.2C:7‑2) (i.e., Megan’s Law registration offenses).

Key provisions and procedural rules

  • Filing: Petition may be filed in the Superior Court of the county where the person resides or in any county where one or more convictions were adjudicated. The petitioner may include other prior dispositions they seek to expunge regardless of location.
  • Timing: An eligible person may apply immediately following the most recent of:
    • the person’s most recent conviction;
    • payment of any court‑ordered financial assessment;
    • satisfactory completion of probation or parole;
    • release from incarceration.
  • Standard of proof: The court may order expungement if it finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that:
    1. the person was a victim of domestic violence (per N.J. law) or otherwise subjected to substantial physical, sexual, or psychological abuse; and
    2. the domestic violence or abuse was a contributing factor to the conviction.
  • Evidence considered: The court must consider all relevant circumstances and may take judicial notice of evidence from trial or other proceedings. The bill lists illustrative evidence the court may consider, including:
    • court records, criminal records, domestic violence incident reports, protective orders;
    • presentence reports, Department of Corrections records;
    • social services and hospital records;
    • sworn statements from witnesses (other than the defendant);
    • verification of consultation with medical/mental health providers;
    • sworn testimony from trained victim services personnel, attorneys, clergy, health professionals, or other professionals who assisted the victim.
  • Effect of expungement: An expungement ordered under this section would have the same force and effect as expungements under existing statutes (N.J.S.2C:52‑1 et seq. and C.53:1‑20.25).

Effective date and procedural note

  • The introduced text states the act would take effect upon enactment into law of a related measure (pending before the Legislature as Assembly Bill A5968 of 2024–2025), indicating this provision is intended to operate alongside or contingent on another statutory change.

Legislative status & sponsors (as provided)

  • Status: SUBSTITUTED BY S2182A (per the Legislative Actions list).
  • Introduced: 2025‑11‑13 (introduced date shown; other listed legislative actions include earlier committee reports and substitution by S2182A).
  • Sponsors: Eliana Pintor Marin (primary), Yvonne Lopez (primary), Jonathan Jacobson (primary); cosponsors include Angelo Santabarbara, Sarahana Shrestha, MaryJane Shimsky, Paula Kay, Christopher Eachus.
  • Related/companion bills: S2182 / S2182A, S4871; prior‑session bills A10511, A888.

Potential impact

  • Would create a trauma‑informed expungement pathway for individuals whose criminal conduct was substantially influenced by being victims of abuse, enabling earlier relief than existing time‑based expungement rules.
  • Courts would gain authority to weigh specialized evidence of abuse and its causal connection to criminal convictions; this may increase expungement petitions and require consideration of records from social services, health providers, and victim‑service organizations.
  • Excludes the most serious offenses (murder, Megan’s Law registration crimes), limiting application to non‑excluded offenses.

If you would like, I can: (1) compare the introduced A5969 text to the companion S2182A to show substantive changes; or (2) prepare a one‑page brief for stakeholders (courts, advocates, prosecutors) highlighting practical effects and implementation issues.

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

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