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A 1142

Relates to the definition of class two bicycles with electric assist

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Amy Paulin

Prohibits harassing or taking listed wildlife at competitive events; violators face a disorderly offense plus five-year suspensions of wildlife licenses and taking privileges.

REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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Bill Summary · A 1142

Summary of Bill A 1142 (New Jersey)

Note on title vs. content: The bill’s introduced text concerns prohibiting the harassing or taking of certain wildlife at competitive events, not the regulation of bicycle definitions. The summary below follows the introduced version’s provisions.

Purpose and Context

  • The bill prohibits harassing or taking certain wildlife at competitive events, with narrow exceptions for field trials or field days authorized by a license.
  • Aims to prevent organized events that encourage wildlife harassment or taking, and to impose penalties, enforcement, and animal welfare safeguards.

Key Provisions

Definitions

  • Competitive event: Any activity, competition, derby, tournament, or organized event where participants are encouraged to take wildlife and may be rewarded with prizes or inducements.
  • Covered wildlife: Bobcat, coyote, crow, fox, mink, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, weasel, woodchuck, or the dead body/parts thereof.
  • Division: The Division of Fish and Wildlife, within the Department of Environmental Protection.
  • Harass: To annoy, attack, disrupt normal wildlife behavior, or otherwise disturb wildlife without taking it.
  • Take: To hunt, capture, kill, trap, catch, net, possess, or collect, or to attempt any of these.
  • Person: An individual or any legal entity (corporation, partnership, etc.).

Prohibitions and Exceptions

  • It is unlawful to harass or take covered wildlife at a competitive event, or to organize, sponsor, promote, conduct, or participate in such an event, except in conjunction with an authorized field trial or field day licensed under R.S.23:4-26.

Penalties

  • Violations constitute a disorderly persons offense.
  • In addition to other penalties under Title 2C, violators face:
    • A five-year suspension of any license or permit issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
    • A five-year suspension of all privileges to take or possess wildlife.

Wildlife Care and Forfeiture

  • Any covered wildlife injured at a prohibited competitive event must be transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or state-licensed veterinarian for treatment, or euthanized if rehabilitation and release are not feasible.
  • Euthanasia must follow best efforts at rehabilitation; euthanasia is a last resort.
  • The Division may forfeit the remains of wildlife killed or euthanized at such events to its own possession; remains become the property of the Division.

Enforcement

  • Provisions may be enforced by:
    • Municipal police officers
    • State Police
    • Law enforcement officers in the Division of Fish and Wildlife
    • Law enforcement officers in the Division of Parks and Forestry (Department of Environmental Protection)

Effective Date

  • Immediate upon enactment.

Legislative History and Actions

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024 (Assembly), initially referred to the Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee.
  • Subsequent actions (as listed): Referred to Transportation on January 9, 2025 (noted twice in the record).
  • Status: Referred to Transportation.

Sponsors and Related Measures

  • Primary sponsor: Assembly Member Amy Paulin.
  • Related bills: S 2754 (companion), A 9160 (prior-session), A 2660 (prior-session).

Potential Impact

  • Strengthens protections for listed wildlife by targeting organized events that encourage or reward taking/harassment.
  • Introduces substantial consequences (five-year suspensions of licenses and wildlife-taking privileges) for offenders.
  • Requires coordination with wildlife professionals for injured animals and authorizes the Division of Fish and Wildlife to secure remains.
  • Establishes clear enforcement channels across multiple law enforcement agencies.
  • If enacted, may affect organizers, participants, sponsors, and vendors of competitive events involving wildlife.

If you’d like, I can also provide a side-by-side comparison with the companion bill (S 2754) or map the bill’s requirements to existing New Jersey wildlife and criminal statutes.

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

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