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A 5316

Requires medical records to be made available to patients in an electronic format through a web portal

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Karines Reyes

The bill increases penalties for motor vehicle theft when linked to home invasion or residential burglary, elevating the charge to first- or second-degree and allowing separate sen

PRINT NUMBER 5316A
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 5316

Summary — Assembly Bill A5316 (Print No. 5316A)

Note on discrepancy
- The bill heading provided (“Requires medical records to be made available to patients in an electronic format through a web portal”) does not match the bill text supplied. The text of the introduced version and A5316A relates to amendments to New Jersey’s motor vehicle theft statute (P.L.2023, c.101; N.J.S.2C:20‑10.1). This summary describes the criminal‑law provisions contained in the supplied text. Verify the official bill text on the New Jersey Legislature website if you need the sponsor’s intended measure.

Purpose / Intent

The bill increases the criminal grading (severity) of motor vehicle theft when the theft is committed in connection with more serious residential offenses (home invasion and residential burglary), clarifies how vehicle value is determined and aggregated, and establishes that motor vehicle theft convictions do not merge with convictions for home invasion or residential burglary.

Key provisions

  • Amends section 1 of P.L.2023, c.101 (N.J.S.2C:20‑10.1) — theft of a motor vehicle.
  • Grading changes:
    • Theft or attempted theft is a first‑degree crime if committed “in the course of committing” a home invasion burglary (defined in P.L.2024, c.83; C.2C:18‑2.1).
    • Theft or attempted theft is a second‑degree crime if any of the following apply:
    • Value of the motor vehicle is $75,000 or more;
    • The theft involved more than one motor vehicle;
    • The theft is committed in the course of a residential burglary (C.2C:18‑2.2).
    • Otherwise, motor vehicle theft remains a third‑degree crime.
  • Defines “in the course of committing” to include acts done in an attempt to commit an offense or in immediate flight after the attempt or commission.
  • Value determination: the trier of fact determines vehicle value; value includes amounts such as State tax avoided, evaded, unpaid, or improperly retained/disposed. Amounts from thefts under one scheme or course of conduct may be aggregated to determine offense grade.
  • Non‑merger: A conviction for motor vehicle theft does not merge with a conviction for home invasion or residential burglary (overrides N.J.S.2C:1‑8 or other law).
  • Effective date: the act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Defendants charged with motor vehicle theft who commit the theft in connection with home invasion or residential burglary — facing higher‑grade charges and potentially longer sentences.
  • Prosecutors and courts — authority to charge/convict under elevated degrees, aggregate values across schemes, and impose separate sentences (no merger).
  • Victims and communities — potential for longer incarcerations in cases involving combined residential and vehicle offenses.

Penalties (statutory ranges)

  • First‑degree: imprisonment 10–20 years; fine up to $200,000; or both.
  • Second‑degree: imprisonment 5–10 years; fine up to $150,000; or both.
  • Third‑degree: imprisonment 3–5 years; fine up to $15,000; or both.

Legislative status and procedural timeline

  • Introduced: February 13, 2025 (Assembly)
  • Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (and, per action log, also to Health)
  • May 20, 2025: Amendment and recommit to Health; Print No. 5316A issued
  • Sponsor (primary): Assemblywoman Karines Reyes
  • Related/companion bills: S4054, S3838; prior-session A8961

Notes / Potential impacts

  • Elevating grading when motor vehicle theft accompanies residential offenses increases potential sentences, which may affect plea bargaining, charging decisions, and correctional populations.
  • The non‑merger provision permits separate punishments for both theft and burglary offenses arising from the same incident.
  • Aggregation and the inclusion of avoided or unpaid State tax in vehicle value broaden the factual bases prosecutors may use to upgrade charges.

If you need, I can: (1) produce a one‑page plain‑language explainer for non‑legal audiences; (2) compare this bill to the companion Senate bill(s); or (3) check and summarize the correct bill text if you provide or confirm the intended title.

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

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