New JerseyHuman trafficking cases would no longer face filing deadlines
Human trafficking prosecutions and covered lawsuits would have no filing deadline, provided their current deadlines have not expired when the law takes effect.
What it does
Prosecutors would face no filing deadline for human trafficking and certain criminal sexual contact charges. Only charges still within their filing deadlines when the law takes effect would qualify.
People harmed by human trafficking would have no deadline to bring covered lawsuits, if their filing deadline has not expired when the law takes effect.
Argument forRemoving deadlines for claims that have not expired could give trafficking victims more time to prepare lawsuits and come forward.
Argument againstAllowing cases whose deadlines have not expired to be filed many years later could make finding records or witnesses harder for defendants.
More detail
Prosecutors would be allowed to start covered criminal cases without a filing deadline. This covers the listed human trafficking offenses and criminal sexual contact under subsection a of N.J.S.2C:14-3. Sexual contact under subsection b would keep its existing deadlines. Charges whose filing deadlines have already expired would remain barred. The change would take effect immediately if enacted.
People harmed by human trafficking would be allowed to bring covered lawsuits without a filing deadline. This covers lawsuits under C.2C:13-8.1 for injuries, including lost money or property, caused by human trafficking offenses under C.2C:13-8 or C.2C:13-9. Claims whose filing deadlines have already expired would remain barred. The change would take effect immediately if enacted.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 29Substituted by S1270/2566 (SCS/2R)Latest
- Oct 22Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Reported favorably out of committee. Result: pass.Lower
- Oct 15Reported as an Assembly Committee Substitute and Referred to Assembly Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Reported out of Assembly committee as a substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 13Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary CommitteeIntroduced
Criminal Justice