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Bill

S 4533

Relates to the water resources planning council

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 2 co-sponsors

Expands cyber-harassment to include reckless conduct, adds penalties for minors and guardians, and potential civil liability for supervision failures.

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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Bill Summary · S 4533

Summary of S 4533 – Relates to the water resources planning council (Introduced version)

Note: The introduced version of S 4533, as filed, concerns cyber-harassment and amends the state’s cyber-harassment statute (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1). The bill’s title references the water resources planning council, but the enacted text provided focuses on expanding the cyber-harassment offense. The bill is currently listed as REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

What the bill would do (main purpose)

  • Expand and clarify the crime of cyber-harassment by adding a recklessness standard to online communications, in addition to the existing purposeful or intentional standard.
  • Maintain existing grounds for cyber-harassment (threats of injury, lewd/obscene material with intent to emotionally harm or fear, or threats to commit crimes).
  • Introduce new enforcement and accountability mechanisms related to minors and parents/guardians, as well as potential civil liability for guardians.

Key provisions

  • Definition and scope:

    • Cyber-harassment includes online communications via any electronic device or social networking site targeting another person.
    • The act can be committed with purpose or with reckless disregard for the safety of another and may involve lewd, indecent, or obscene material aimed at or about a person.

  • Offense classifications and penalties:

    • Reckless cyber-harassment (newly included by the bill):
    • If committed with reckless disregard and the offender is under 21 or when other criteria apply, the offense is a disorderly persons offense.
    • If the offender is 21 or older and impersonates a minor to harass a minor, it is a third-degree crime.
    • Existing intentional or purposeful cyber-harassment remains a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in prison, up to a $10,000 fine) unless the impersonation exception applies.
    • Impersonation of a minor by a person 21+ to cyber-harass a minor remains a third-degree crime.
    • A disorderly persons offense is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

  • Minor delinquency provisions:

    • If a minor under 16 is adjudicated delinquent for cyber-harassment, the court may order, as a condition of sentence, completion of:
    • A class or training program designed to reduce cyber-harassment; or
    • A class or training program about the dangers of cyber-harassment.
    • Non-compliance by the parent/guardian with court-imposed conditions can result in disorderly conduct penalties (up to $100 for first offense, up to $500 for subsequent offenses).

  • Special provisions and intent:

    • The trier of fact may infer an intent to harass if the offender knows or should have known that their actions were directed at or about a judicial officer, with a nexus to the judge’s public duties.
    • A parent/guardian with legal custody of a delinquent minor may be liable in a civil action for willful or wanton disregard in supervising the minor’s cyber-harassment.

  • Effective date:

    • The act is proposed to take effect immediately upon enactment.

Who would be affected

  • Individuals engaging in cyber-harassment, including those who act with reckless disregard online.
  • Minors adjudicated delinquent for cyber-harassment (and their parents/guardians) with potential educational program requirements.
  • Guardians potentially subject to civil liability for supervision failures.
  • Judicial officers could be targeted under the inferred-harassment provision.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative actions:
    • Introduced in the Senate on May 29, 2025.
    • Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee (noted in the record) and to Environmental Conservation (the status line shows ENV CONSERVATION with multiple reference dates).
  • Sponsors:
    • Primary: James Skoufis
    • Cosponsors: Rachel May, Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.

Additional context

  • The bill’s content is focused on cyber-harassment and penalties, not on water resources planning, despite the bill’s number and title suggesting a relation to water resources planning council. Readers should verify the official text and bill label in updated legislative materials to confirm any alignment with its titular reference.

Related actions and references

  • Related bill identifiers in prior sessions: A 6221, S 4291, S 1738, S 3396.
  • The introduced version text references the amending of P.L.2013, c.272 (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.1) and cross-references civil liability provisions from P.L.2021, c.338.

If you want, I can compare this bill’s text to current law to highlight every facial legal change and provide a side-by-side comparison.

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

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