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AJR 89

Relating to: honoring Wisconsin’s Hispanic veterans.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Margaret Arney and 22 co-sponsors

NJ condemns all hate and bias crimes and directs the Governor and Attorney General to support victims, improve reporting, pursue prosecutions, and boost security at worship sites.

Senator Habush Sinykin added as a cosponsor
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Bill Summary · AJR 89

Summary of Assembly Joint Resolution 89 (AJR 89)

Overview

AJR 89 is a New Jersey joint resolution that condemns hatred in all forms and explicitly condemns hate crimes and bias crimes. It expresses a strong public policy stance against racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, and animus toward individuals based on race, religion, ethnicity, disability, age, marital status, gender, or sexual orientation. The resolution has moved through the Assembly and is currently referred in the Senate to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. A companion measure exists in the Senate as SJR 41. The resolution was introduced on January 9, 2024, and the Assembly passed it in December 2024.

Purpose

  • Reaffirm New Jersey’s commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and safe community.
  • Condemn hate and bias in its strongest terms.
  • Encourage ongoing government action to support victims and deter hate-motivated conduct.

Key Provisions

  • Section 1: The State of New Jersey unequivocally rejects and condemns all forms of hatred, hate-based violence, incitement to violence, and bias or discrimination targeting individuals by race, religion, ethnicity, disability (physical or mental), age, marriage, familial status, gender, or sexual orientation.
  • Section 2: Directs the Governor and the Attorney General to continue State assistance to victims of hate and bias crimes, improve how such crimes are reported, pursue prosecutions, enhance security measures, and improve preparedness at places of worship and for groups targeted by hate.
  • Section 3: Calls for continued research and development of new methods to understand and combat hatred and bias crimes.
  • Section 4: Provides that the joint resolution takes effect immediately.
  • Committee amendments ( Assembly): technical updates to terminology and agency names (e.g., replacing “citizens” with “residents” and correcting the Division on Civil Rights name).

Who is Affected

  • Residents of New Jersey.
  • Victims of hate and bias crimes.
  • Law enforcement agencies, the Attorney General, and the Governor.
  • Religious institutions and other groups targeted for bias.
  • State civil rights bodies (Division on Civil Rights and Bias Crime Unit within the Division of Criminal Justice) and county prosecutors.

Legislative History & Status

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024.
  • Passed Assembly: December 19, 2024 (71-0-0).
  • Reported from Assembly Judiciary Committee with amendments: December 12, 2024.
  • Senate action: Received in Senate and referred to the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee on January 14, 2025.
  • Related: SJR 41 (companion in the Senate).

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • As a joint resolution, AJR 89 expresses state policy rather than creating new law; it endorses actions by the Governor and Attorney General and acknowledges ongoing initiatives.
  • The immediate effective date underscores its role as a policy statement and call to action.

Potential Impact

  • Signals strong statewide condemnation of hate and bias crimes, potentially affecting public messaging and resource prioritization.
  • Encourages continued funding and coordination among law enforcement, civil rights agencies, and community groups to support victims and prevent bias incidents.
  • Reinforces existing NJ efforts (Bias Crime Unit, Division on Civil Rights, community reporting initiatives) and may influence future programs and training.

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

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