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A4778 • 2026

Permits religious services during state of emergency or public health emergency declarations by Governor.

Permits religious services during state of emergency or public health emergency declarations by Governor.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
McGuckin, Gregory P.
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Permits religious services during state of emergency or public health emergency declarations by Governor.

Permits religious services during state of emergency or public health emergency declarations by Governor.

What This Bill Does

  • Permits religious services during state of emergency or public health emergency declarations by Governor.
  • Topic: State and Local Government Fiscal note: This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-19 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee

Official Summary Text

Permits religious services during state of emergency or public health emergency declarations by Governor.
Topic:
State and Local Government
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A4778

ASSEMBLY, No. 4778

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Scharfenberger

SYNOPSIS

���� Permits religious services during state of emergency
or public health emergency declarations by Governor.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning religious services during certain
emergencies, and supplementing P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.) and
P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.).�

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� a.� Notwithstanding any
other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no state of emergency
declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et
seq.) shall:

���� (1)� infringe on the right to
assemble to worship according to a person�s faith;

���� (2)� impact the ability to
travel to or from a place of worship; or

���� (3)� authorize any adverse
action, including civil or criminal penalties or the imposition of an
administrative sanction, against a religious institution or members of a
religious organization for exercising their religion.�

���� b.� Except as provided in
subsection a. of this section, this act, P.L.�� , c.�� (C.�� )(pending before
the Legislature as this bill), shall not prohibit the Governor from requiring
religious organizations to comply with health, safety, or occupancy requirements
issued by the State or federal government that are applicable to all
organizations and businesses that provide essential services.�

���� 2.� a.� Notwithstanding any
other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, no public health emergency
declaration issued by the Governor pursuant to P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et
seq.) shall:

���� (1)� infringe on the right to
assemble to worship according to a person�s faith;

���� (2)� impact the ability to
travel to or from a place of worship; or

���� (3)� authorize any adverse
action, including civil or criminal penalties or the imposition of an
administrative sanction, against a religious institution or members of a
religious organization for exercising their religion.�

���� b.� Except as provided in
subsection a. of this section, this act, P.L.�� , c.�� (C.�� )(pending before
the Legislature as this bill), shall not prohibit the Governor from requiring
religious organizations to comply with health, safety, or occupancy
requirements issued by the State or federal government that are applicable to
all organizations and businesses that provide essential services.�

���� 3.� This act shall take effect
immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would permit
religious organizations to continue operating and engaging in religious
services during a declaration by the Governor of a state of emergency or public
health emergency.�

���� The bill does not prohibit the
Governor from requiring religious organizations to comply with health, safety,
or occupancy requirements issued by the State or federal government that are
applicable to all organizations and businesses that provide essential services.