NJ Senate approves penalties for political violence

by Nikita Biryukov, New Jersey Monitor

The New Jersey Senate unanimously approved a bill that would heighten penalties for political violence months after a series of high-profile political killings rocked the nation.

The bipartisan bill would create a new political violence charge that prosecutors could add to indictments against individuals charged with certain violent crimes, including, among several others, murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault.

“It’s somewhat bittersweet. It’s sad that you need that in this day and age, but if you look at the news any given day, you need that in this day and age,” said bill sponsor Sen. Doug Steinhardt (R-Warren).

Under the bill, New Jersey would handle political violence much like it does bias intimidation offenses, the state’s name for hate crimes.

The severity of a political violence charge would depend on the underlying offense but would always carry higher penalties than the offense itself.

For example, a person facing a second-degree aggravated assault charge that typically carries a prison term of between five and 10 years could face between 10 and 20 years’ imprisonment from a political violence charge tied to the same crime.

Those sentences would be independent of sentences for the underlying crime, though the legislation does not bar judges from issuing concurrent sentences for the two offenses.

If the underlying crime is a disorderly persons offense — the equivalent of a misdemeanor under New Jersey law — the political violence would be a fourth-degree crime carrying up to 18 months’ jail time.

A political violence charge prompted by a first degree crime would carry higher penalties than typically allowed under New Jersey law. That charge could send someone to prison for up to 30 years, rather than to 10 to 20 years provided for most first degree offenses.

“Politically motivated violence is an attack on the foundation of our democracy. No one in this country should live in fear for speaking their mind, and elected officials must be able to govern free from threats, harassment, or attempts to silence them for their beliefs,” said Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson), the bill’s Democratic sponsor.

The bill’s introduction in February followed a string of high-profile assassinations last year.

In June 2025, a gunman posing as a police officer killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband, and their dog and critically wounded Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife.

Vance Boelter, the gunman, pleaded guilty to the murders, the attempted murders, and related charges earlier this month. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms, plus an additional 40 years.

In September 2025, a gunman fatally shot Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Tyler Robinson, the alleged shooter, has pleaded not guilty.

President Trump, meanwhile, has been targeted several times for assassination.

The legislation’s smooth passage through the Senate has not been mirrored in the lower chamber, where the bill has not moved since its introduction in February and has yet to win a Democratic sponsor.

Steinhardt said he was seeking someone to sign on and still hoped to push the bill to Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s desk.

“I’ve had some discussions with some Assembly colleagues, and I’m hopeful that it’ll be done before this legislative session finishes,” he said.