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Bill

A 1623

Prohibits flags of designated terrorist organizations from being displayed or flown on State property.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Auth and 5 co-sponsors

Prohibits displaying flags of designated terrorist organizations on state property, with immediate penalties to state entities tolerating them (except for news, educational, theatr

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 1623

Summary of Bill A-1623 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and Intent

  • Prohibits the display or flying of flags of organizations designated by the U.S. Department of State as terrorist organizations on State property.
  • Establishes penalties for State entities occupying State property that allow such flags to be displayed.
  • Allows exceptions for certain contexts (news, theatrical, historical, or educational).
  • Sets the enforcement mechanism and how penalties are handled and deposited.

Key Provisions

  1. Prohibition on Flag Display

    • No flag of an organization designated by the U.S. Department of State as a terrorist organization may be displayed or flown on State property at any time.
    • State property includes land and improvements owned or leased by the State, encompassing:
      • State offices, hospitals, parks and recreation areas, institutions, schools (including colleges and universities), and related abutting vacant land held for future use.

  2. Penalties for Noncompliance

    • Any State entity occupying State property that permits such a flag to be displayed shall face immediate loss of State funding or other funding.
    • The amount and determination of the penalty are to be set by:
      • Secretary of State, and
      • Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury,
      • In a manner deemed necessary and appropriate.
    • Penalties collected are to be paid to the Department of the Treasury and deposited into the General Fund for reallocation as permissible.

  3. Definitions and Scope

    • “State property” is defined broadly to include land and improvements owned or leased by the State, as well as abutting vacant land held for future use for the same purposes.

  4. Permitted Exceptions

    • The prohibition does not apply to displays for:
      • News, theatrical, historical, or educational purposes.

  5. Rulemaking Authority

    • The Secretary of State shall adopt rules and regulations, under the Administrative Procedure Act, to implement the provisions of the section.

  6. Effective Date

    • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Affected Parties

  • State Entities Occupying State Property: Public offices, state hospitals, parks, institutions, schools, and universities, including their leased spaces or facilities, that display any flag of a designated terrorist organization on State property.
  • State Treasury and Budget Officials: Responsible for determining and enforcing penalties, and depositing collected penalties into the General Fund.
  • Secretary of State: Oversees enforcement, rulemaking, and implementation of penalties.
  • General Public/Media: Indirectly affected through compliance requirements and potential public displays in educational, historical, or news contexts.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Immediate effect: The act states that the penalties take effect immediately upon enactment.
  • Regulatory development: The Secretary of State must promulgate implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.
  • Monitoring and enforcement timeline: Not specified beyond immediate penalties for noncompliance; enforcement would begin once the rulemaking is in place and property managers are informed.

Practical Implications

  • Establishes a formal framework to restrict symbolic displays on state property, aligning with anti-terrorism-related designations.
  • Introduces a financial disincentive for state entities that tolerate such flags, potentially driving stricter internal policies.
  • Balances restriction with narrow exceptions for educational, historical, news, and theatrical contexts to preserve legitimate uses of flag displays.

If you would like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with existing NJ statutes on flag displays or a brief Q&A outlining likely questions from state agencies and institutions.

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

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