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A2753 1R
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 2753
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ
District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires Department of Agriculture to publish
information on highway safety for motorists passing farm equipment on public
highways; includes safely sharing roadway with farm equipment in driver
education courses and certain informational brochures.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As reported by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural
Resources Committee on March 9, 2026, with amendments.
��
An Act
concerning highway safety and farm equipment,
supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes, and amending
P.L.1998,
c.108
.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� (New section)� a.� As
used in this section:
���� �Department� means the
Department of Agriculture.
���� �Farm equipment� means:
���� (1)�� a farm tractor or
traction equipment used for farm operation that is registered to travel upon
public highways pursuant to R.S.39:3-24;
���� (2)�� a motor vehicle, not for
hire, used exclusively as farm machinery or a farm implement; or
���� (3)�� any farm tractor,
traction equipment, farm machinery or farm implement drawn by a motor vehicle.
���� �Secretary� means the
Secretary of Agriculture.
���� b.��� The department shall, in
consultation with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the
Department of Law and Public Safety and the Chief Administrator of the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, create and publish on the department�s Internet
website and any official department social media accounts, and update as
appropriate, informational materials about motorists approaching farm equipment
on public highways.� Such informational materials shall include, but not be
limited to, a video created by the department informing motorists of the risks
of attempting to pass farm equipment on public highways.
���� c.����
1
The
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall publish on its Internet website and
on any official social media accounts, and shall post in all physical locations
throughout the State, and update as appropriate, the informational materials
created pursuant to subsection b. of this section.�
����
d.
1
The
department shall place additional emphasis on highway safety involving farm
equipment, including the materials created and published pursuant to subsection
b. of this section, during the third week of September of each year, recognized
as National Farm Safety and Health Week.
����
1
[
d.
]
e.
1
���� Within
18 months after the effective date of P.L. ,
c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill), the secretary, in consultation
with the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department
of Law and Public Safety and the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission, shall issue a report to the Governor, and to the
Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).� The
report shall include, at a minimum:
���� (1)�� an assessment of the
safety risks of motorists attempting to pass farm equipment on public highways;
���� (2)�� a list of potential
remedies for the State to pursue to mitigate or eliminate the safety risks
identified pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, including but not
limited to the posting of signage on public highways where farm equipment is
likely to travel and increasing penalties for motorists who violate the State�s
motor vehicle laws when passing farm equipment; and
���� (3)�� an estimate of the
funding required to implement the remedies identified pursuant to paragraph (2)
of this subsection.
����
1
[
2. Section 8
of P.L.1998, c.108 (C.27:5F-41) is amended to read as follows:
���� 8.��� a.� The Director of the
Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety,
after consultation with the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission, shall develop curriculum guidelines for use by teachers of approved
classroom driver education courses.� The course of instruction for approved
courses shall be no less than 30 hours in length and be designed to develop and
instill the knowledge and attitudes necessary for the safe operation and
driving of motor vehicles.� Defensive driving; highway courtesy; dangers of
driving a vehicle in an aggressive manner, which shall include, but not be
limited to, unexpectedly altering the speed of a vehicle, making improper or
erratic traffic lane changes, disregarding traffic control devices, failing to
yield the right of way, and following another vehicle too closely; accident
avoidance; understanding and respect for the State's motor vehicle laws;
techniques for the safe operation and proper maintenance of a vehicle, which
shall include, but not be limited to, safety tips to avoid carbon monoxide
poisoning from motor vehicles; insurance fraud; operating a motor vehicle in a
manner that safely shares the roadway with pedestrians, cyclists, skaters,
farm
equipment as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L. ,
c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill),
riders of
motorized-scooters, and other non-motorized vehicles, which shall include, but
not be limited to, passing a cyclist on the roadway, recognizing bicycle lanes,
navigating intersections with pedestrians and cyclists, and exiting a vehicle
without endangering pedestrians and cyclists; and State requirements for and
benefits of maintaining automobile insurance shall be emphasized. The
incorporation of these curriculum guidelines in these classroom courses and the
use of related instructional materials shall be a requirement for approval of
the course by the chief administrator.
���� b.��� The Director of the
Division of Highway Traffic Safety, in consultation with the Chief
Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, shall produce an
informational brochure for parents and guardians of beginning drivers under the
age of 18 years.� The commission shall ensure that the parents or guardians of
a permit holder receive these brochures at the time a permit is issued to a
beginning driver. The brochures shall include, but not be limited to, the
following information:
���� (1)�� Setting an example for
the beginning driver;
���� (2)�� Accident and fatality
statistics about beginning drivers;
���� (3)�� Causes of accidents
among beginning drivers;
���� (4)�� The need to supervise
vehicle operation by a beginning driver;
���� (5)�� Methods to coach a
beginning driver on how to reduce accidents;
���� (6)�� A description of the
graduated driver's license program;
���� (7)�� Benefits of classroom
and behind-the-wheel driver education under the direction of State certified or
licensed driving instructors, as the case may be;
���� (8)�� The dangers of driving a
vehicle in an aggressive manner, which shall include, but not be limited to,
unexpectedly altering the speed of a vehicle, making improper or erratic
traffic lane changes, disregarding traffic control devices, failing to yield the
right of way, and following another vehicle too closely;
���� (9)�� The dangers of carbon
monoxide poisoning from motor vehicles and techniques for the safe operation
and proper maintenance of a vehicle, which shall include, but not be limited
to, safety tips to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning from motor vehicles;
���� (10)� Maintaining an awareness
of operating a motor vehicle in a manner that safely shares the roadway with
pedestrians, cyclists, skaters,
farm equipment as that term is defined in
section 1 of P.L. ,
c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill),
riders of
motorized-scooters, and other non-motorized vehicles, which shall include, but
not be limited to, passing a cyclist on the roadway, recognizing bicycle lanes,
navigating intersections with pedestrians and cyclists, and exiting a vehicle
without endangering pedestrians and cyclists; and
���� (11)� A sample practice
driving log.
(cf: P.L.2023, c.216, s.3)
]
1
����
1
2.�� Section
8 of P.L.1998, c.108 (C.27:5F-41) is amended to read as follows:
���� 8. a. The Director of the
Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety,
after consultation with the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission, shall develop curriculum guidelines for use by teachers of approved
classroom driver education courses.� The course of instruction for approved
courses shall be no less than 30 hours in length and be designed to develop and
instill the knowledge and attitudes necessary for the safe operation and
driving of motor vehicles.� Defensive driving; highway courtesy; dangers of
driving a vehicle in an aggressive manner, which shall include, but not be
limited to, unexpectedly altering the speed of a vehicle, making improper or
erratic traffic lane changes, disregarding traffic control devices, failing to
yield the right of way, and following another vehicle too closely; accident
avoidance; understanding and respect for the State's motor vehicle laws;
techniques for the safe operation and proper maintenance of a vehicle, which
shall include, but not be limited to, safety tips to avoid carbon monoxide
poisoning from motor vehicles; insurance fraud; operating a motor vehicle in a
manner that safely shares the roadway with pedestrians, cyclists, skaters,
farm
equipment as that term is defined in section 1 of P.L. ,
c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill),
� riders of
motorized-scooters, and other non-motorized vehicles, which shall include, but
not be limited to, a driver's responsibilities when approaching and passing a
pedestrian or person operating a bicycle or personal conveyance on the roadway
pursuant to P.L.2021, c.194 (C.39:4-92.4) and the penalties for failing to
comply with these responsibilities, recognizing bicycle lanes, navigating
intersections with pedestrians and cyclists, and exiting a vehicle without
endangering pedestrians and cyclists; and State requirements for and benefits
of maintaining automobile insurance shall be emphasized. The incorporation of
these curriculum guidelines in these classroom courses and the use of related
instructional materials shall be a requirement for approval of the course by
the chief administrator.
���� b.��� The Director of the
Division of Highway Traffic Safety, in consultation with the Chief
Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, shall produce an
informational brochure for parents and guardians of beginning drivers under the
age of 18 years.� The commission shall ensure that the parents or guardians of
a permit holder receive these brochures at the time a permit is issued to a
beginning driver. The brochures shall include, but not be limited to, the
following information:
���� (1)�� Setting an example for
the beginning driver;
���� (2)�� Accident and fatality
statistics about beginning drivers;
���� (3)�� Causes of accidents
among beginning drivers;
���� (4)�� The need to supervise
vehicle operation by a beginning driver;
���� (5)�� Methods to coach a
beginning driver on how to reduce accidents;
���� (6)�� A description of the
graduated driver's license program;
���� (7)�� Benefits of classroom
and behind-the-wheel driver education under the direction of State certified or
licensed driving instructors, as the case may be;
���� (8)�� The dangers of driving a
vehicle in an aggressive manner, which shall include, but not be limited to,
unexpectedly altering the speed of a vehicle, making improper or erratic
traffic lane changes, disregarding traffic control devices, failing to yield the
right of way, and following another vehicle too closely;
���� (9)�� The dangers of carbon
monoxide poisoning from motor vehicles and techniques for the safe operation
and proper maintenance of a vehicle, which shall include, but not be limited
to, safety tips to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning from motor vehicles;
���� (10) Maintaining an awareness
of operating a motor vehicle in a manner that safely shares the roadway with
pedestrians, cyclists, skaters,
farm equipment as that term is defined in
section 1 of P.L. ,
c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill),
riders of
motorized-scooters, and other non-motorized vehicles, which shall include, but
not be limited to, a driver's responsibilities when approaching and passing a�
pedestrian or person operating a bicycle or personal conveyance on the roadway
pursuant to P.L.2021, c.194 (C.39:4-92.4) and the penalties for failing to
comply with these responsibilities, recognizing bicycle lanes, navigating
intersections with pedestrians and cyclists, and exiting a vehicle without
endangering pedestrians and cyclists; and
���� (11) A sample practice driving
log.
1
(cf: P.L.2025, c.103, s.2)
���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.