Bill

A 1844

Prohibits the governor from granting themselves or any person involved with furthering the illegal conduct of the governor a reprieve, commutation or pardon

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Steck

Prohibits the governor and anyone involved in advancing the governor’s illegal conduct from receiving clemency (reprieve, commutation, or pardon), strengthening accountability.

OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · A 1844

Summary of Assembly Bill A 1844

Overview

Bill A 1844 proposes to restrict the governor’s clemency powers by prohibiting the governor from granting themselves or any person involved with furthering the governor’s illegal conduct a reprieve, commutation, or pardon. The bill is currently in committee and has progressed through initial referral steps.

Purpose and Intent

To prevent the governor from issuing any form of clemency (reprieve, commutation, or pardon) to themselves or to individuals involved with enabling or advancing illegal conduct attributed to the governor.
Aims to strengthen accountability and integrity in the executive clemency process by ensuring that clemency cannot be used to shield misconduct by the governor or associates.

Key Provisions (as indicated by the bill’s title and status)

Prohibition on clemency grants to:
- The governor themselves, and
- Any person involved with furthering the governor’s illegal conduct.
Applies to all clemency actions categorized as reprieve, commutation, or pardon.
Specific statutory definitions or exceptions are not provided in the available information; text would be needed to confirm any carve-outs (e.g., victims’ rights, procedural protections, or retroactivity).

Scope and Definitions (based on available information)

The central phrase requiring interpretation is “involved with furthering the illegal conduct of the governor.” The bill as described does not include available text defining this term, which could affect how broadly the prohibition applies (e.g., direct participants vs. certain associates).
No explicit exceptions are listed in the provided material; details would appear in the bill’s text.

Legislative Timeline and Procedural Status

Introduced: January 14, 2025
2025-01-14: Referred to Judiciary
2025-01-15: Referred to Attorney General for Opinion
2025-01-29: Opinion referred to Judiciary
Status: OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY (indicating ongoing committee consideration)

Related Bills (Companion and Prior-Session References)

A 8234 (prior-session)
A 4315 (prior-session)
S 5831 (companion) — listed as companion in two entries

Potential Impact and Considerations

Clarifies and potentially tightens the governor’s clemency authority by adding a prohibition tied to misconduct of the governor or associates.
Could affect future clemency decisions where the governor or allied individuals are implicated in illegal activity.
Key questions for stakeholders: How will “involved with furthering the illegal conduct” be defined? Are there safe harbors, due process protections, or transitional provisions? How would the bill interact with ongoing investigations or appeals?
Administrative and legal implications: Implementation would require mechanisms to identify and adjudicate eligibility for clemency in cases involving the governor or affiliated persons.

If you’d like, I can create a side-by-side comparison with the companion/Senate bills once their texts are available or provide a brief memo on potential ambiguity areas to watch in committee hearings.

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