STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VICTORIA A. FLYNN
District 13 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman GERRY SCHARFENBERGER
District 13 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Fantasia
SYNOPSIS
Makes desecration of military monument crime of the third degree.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning desecration of venerated objects and amending N.J.S.2C:33-9.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.2C:33-9 is amended to reads as follows:
2C:33-9. Desecration of Venerated Objects. A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he purposely desecrates any public monument, insignia, symbol, or structure, or place of worship or burial.
A person commits a crime of the third degree if he purposely desecrates a military monument.
"Desecrate" means defacing, damaging or polluting.
"Military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle.
(cf: N.J.S.2C:33-9)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes purposely desecrating a military monument a crime of the third degree. As used in the bill, the term "military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle.