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A 5386

Requires law enforcement departments to report instances and occurrences of hate crimes

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Berger and 11 co-sponsors

Expands Nosey’s Law to ban traveling animal acts for a broader set of wild or exotic species (including rabbits and rodents) with penalties and limited exceptions.

PRINT NUMBER 5386A
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Bill Summary · A 5386

Summary — A5386A (Print No. 5386A)

Title: Requires law enforcement departments to report instances and occurrences of hate crimes (bill caption appears inconsistent with text)
Bill No.: A5386 / Print 5386A
Introduced: March 6, 2025 — Status: PRINT 5386A (Amend & Recommit to Codes, 05/22/2025)
Primary sponsor: Assemblymember Alex Bores; several cosponsors

Note: The PDF header shown in the materials is corrupt and the statutory text that follows is an amendment to P.L.2018, c.141 (commonly known as “Nosey’s Law”). This summary covers the substantive changes in A5386A to that statute.

Main purpose

To expand the statutory definition of “wild or exotic animals” covered by Nosey’s Law and to prohibit the use of those animals in traveling (mobile) animal acts, thereby broadening the existing ban on transport-based animal performances.

Key provisions

  • Defines core terms:
    • “Mobile or traveling housing facility”: vehicle (truck, trailer, rail car) used to transport or house animals for performance.
    • “Performance”: any animal act, carnival, circus, display, exhibition, fair, parade, petting zoo, public showing, ride, trade show, etc., where animals perform or entertain a live audience.
    • “Traveling animal act”: a performance that requires transporting an animal to/from the performance location in a mobile housing facility.
  • Substantively amends the statutory definition of “wild or exotic animal” by:
    • Removing previously listed exclusions for certain domestic species (e.g., domestic cattle/bison, domestic dogs, domestic cats, domestic horses/ponies/donkeys/mules and others).
    • Explicitly adding two new taxonomic groups: Lagomorpha (rabbits and hares) and Rodentia (rodents).
    • Retaining a broad list of higher-level taxa (Artiodactyla, Camelidae, Canidae, Crocodilia, Elephantidae, Felidae, Marsupialia, Non‑human primates, Perissodactyla, Pinnipedia, Ursidae, Elasmobranchii).
  • Prohibits the use of any “wild or exotic animal” (under the expanded definition) in a traveling animal act.
  • Penalties: Violations are subject to the penalties provided in section 10 of P.L.1973, c.309 (C.23:2A-10), except that the criminal penalties in subsection f. of that section do not apply.
  • Exceptions: Enumerates exceptions to the prohibition, including (as in prior law) certain exhibitions at non‑mobile, permanent USDA‑licensed institutions, educational/outreach programs (with language in the bill materials indicating narrowing to outreach by or at educational institutions), institutions of higher education for research/education, and governmental outreach programs.

Who is affected

  • Traveling circuses, shows, petting zoos, fairs, performers and promoters that transport animals for performances.
  • Owners, trainers, and transporters of animals now covered (including domestic species formerly excluded and newly added rabbits/rodents).
  • Permanent, non‑mobile institutions (zoos, licensed facilities), educational institutions, and governmental entities — some activities by these may still be permitted under specified exceptions.
  • Regulatory agencies: Department of Environmental Protection / Division of Fish and Wildlife and enforcement authorities administering P.L.2018, c.141 and P.L.1973, c.309.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced 03/06/2025; referred to Assembly Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee and then to Codes.
  • Amended and recommitted to Codes 05/22/2025; print number 5386A issued 05/22/2025.
  • Effective date in the bill text: immediately upon enactment.
  • Companion bills in the Senate: S3989 and S5943 (listed as related/companion).

Potential impact

  • Broadens prohibition to cover many animals and types of traveling performances previously permitted, likely preventing the transport-and-performance use of common domestic species (e.g., dogs, horses, cattle) and adding rabbits and rodents to the banned list for traveling acts.
  • Could shift some performances to non‑mobile, licensed facilities or educational settings that meet exception criteria.
  • Enforcement will rely on existing statutory penalty structure, but criminal penalties in a specific subsection are waived per the amendment.

If you want, I can produce a side‑by‑side comparison showing exactly which taxonomic exclusions are removed from current law and sample scenarios (e.g., county fair exhibits, traveling pony rides) to illustrate how the bill would apply.

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

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