Repeals provisions of law requiring certain cities pay for certain charter school rents

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Alicia Hyndman

Criminalizes knowingly possessing digital 3D‑printing files to manufacture firearms or components when not licensed, with intent to produce; fourth‑degree offense.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Purpose / Intent

A4975 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly possessing digital instructions (printing plans/files) that can be used to program a three‑dimensional (3D) printer to manufacture or produce a firearm, firearm receiver, magazine, or firearm component — when the possessor is not licensed or registered to manufacture firearms and has the intent to manufacture or produce such items. The bill implements Recommendation 2 of the State Commission of Investigation’s 2024 report, “Illegal Firearms Use & Trends in New Jersey.”

Key provisions

Adds a crime for possession of “firearm digital instructions” that may be used to program a 3D printer to make:

a firearm,
a firearm receiver,
a magazine, or
a firearm component.

Required elements:

Knowingly possessing the digital instructions;
Not being licensed or registered to manufacture firearms; and
Possessing the instructions with the intent to manufacture or produce the firearm or component.

Penalty: classified as a fourth‑degree crime — punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment, a fine up to $10,000, or both.

The bill amends N.J.S.2C:39‑1 and N.J.S.2C:39‑3 to add the offense and related definitions/authority.

Who is affected

Individuals who create, download, store, or distribute digital printing files for firearms or components and who intend to use them to manufacture firearms, if not licensed/registered as manufacturers.

Law enforcement and criminal-justice system actors (county prosecutors, Judiciary, Office of the Public Defender).

Corrections and parole systems if convictions result in incarceration or supervised release.

Technology and maker communities could be affected in practice (files hosted, transferred, or stored).

Fiscal and enforcement impact

Office of Legislative Services (OLS) estimates indeterminate annual increases in State and local expenditures and indeterminate revenue from fines (collections historically limited).

Agencies expected to incur increased caseloads: Department of Law & Public Safety; county prosecutors; Judiciary; Office of the Public Defender; Department of Corrections; State Parole Board.

OLS notes a general presumption of non‑incarceration for first‑time fourth‑degree offenders but acknowledges potential incarceration costs (FY2023 average annual cost per incarcerated person cited at $75,254; marginal costs noted in the fiscal estimate).

Legislative status / timeline (key steps)

Introduced: 2024‑10‑21 (Assembly); referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Assembly Judiciary reported with amendments: 2025‑02‑20 (committee changed offense degree to fourth).

Reported out of Assembly Appropriations (with amendments): 2025‑03‑20.

Passed Assembly: 2025‑03‑24 (50–26–1).

Received in Senate and referred to Senate Law & Public Safety: 2025‑05‑12.

Reported out of Senate Law & Public Safety Committee (2R): 2025‑06‑19 — identical to companion S3894.

Related/companion bills

S3894 (Senate companion)

A5289 (prior‑session related bill)

This summary focuses on the bill’s substantive changes: criminalizing possession of 3D‑printing files for firearms when knowingly held with intent to manufacture by persons not licensed to manufacture, with fourth‑degree penalties and associated criminal‑justice system impacts.

Bill