Urges Governor to protect religious liberty during declared state of emergency.

ACR150

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 150

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 28, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges Governor to protect religious liberty during
declared state of emergency.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
urging the Governor
to protect religious liberty during a declared state of emergency.

Whereas,

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government
from enacting laws which establish a national religion or which benefit one
religion over another, and prevents the government from prohibiting the free
exercise of religion and the freedom to peaceably assemble; and

Whereas,
Our State
Constitution prescribes:
�No person shall be
deprived of the inestimable privilege of worshipping Almighty God in a manner
agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience��
(N.J. Const. art. I,
par. 3) and hence, the New Jersey Constitution specifically protects the
act
of, and manner of, worshipping Almighty
God; and

Whereas,

Rising COVID-19 infections prompted Governor Murphy to declare a state of
emergency and announce a Statewide curfew on March 9, 2020 through Executive
Order No. 103, and a Statewide stay-at-home-order on March 21, 2020 through
Executive Order No. 107; and

Whereas,

Churches and houses of worship in New Jersey were restricted through Executive
Orders No. 104 and 107 from holding in-person services between March and June
2020 and were open to in-person services, but restricted to varying room
capacity limits, between June 2020 and May 2021 in an effort to curtail the
COVID-19 pandemic; and

Whereas,

Executive Orders No. 104 and No. 107 issued by Governor Murphy deemed certain
secular businesses and services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, gas
stations, pet stores, and liquor stores, as �essential� and allowed these
business to continue operating with few limitations throughout the COVID-19
pandemic; and

Whereas,

Churches and houses of worship were not deemed �essential� despite the
significant public services houses of worship offer such as fund raising, food
pantries, shelters, and low-cost legal services, along with a sense of
community, unity, and hope houses of worship offer to millions of New Jersey
residents, much needed resources during a time of crisis such as the COVID-19
pandemic; and

Whereas,

The Supreme Court of the United States has determined on multiple occasions
that COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the states of California, Colorado, and
New York such as religious household gathering limitations and indoor gathering
limits in houses of worship, particularly where houses of worship had more
restrictive gathering limits in comparison to similar secular businesses and
services deemed �essential�, violated religious freedom as guaranteed by the
First Amendment to the United States Constitution; and

Whereas,

Governor Murphy utilized his gubernatorial powers aggressively since the
beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that have abridged the freedom of
New Jersey residents when the Governor should have instead utilized his
significant powers to protect the fundamental rights of the people of New
Jersey during a time of crisis; and

Whereas,

Restrictions on religious gatherings in New Jersey during the COVID-19 health
emergency potentially violated certain unalienable rights protected by the
Constitution of the United States, and in light of these violations, the
Governor of New Jersey should protect religious liberty during a state of
emergency; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

���� 1.��� The Legislature of the
State of New Jersey respectfully urges the Governor to protect religious
liberty during a declared state of emergency.

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor
and Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

���� Rising COVID-19 infections in
New Jersey prompted Governor Murphy to declare a state of emergency and
announce a Statewide curfew on March 9, 2020 and a Statewide stay-at-home-order
on March 21, 2020.� Churches and houses of worship were affected by the Statewide
stay-at-home order and were closed between March and June 2020 for in-person
religious services and once re-opened, remained heavily restricted by indoor
capacity limits placed by Governor Murphy.� Not all secular businesses and
services were equally restricted.� Many, like grocery stores, pharmacies, and
liquor stores were deemed �essential� by executive order and remained open with
few or no restrictions.� Churches and houses of worship were not deemed
�essential� despite the important services they provide New Jersey residents,
such as food pantries, homeless shelters, and a sense of community, unity, and
hope.�

���� Religious liberty is protected
by the United States Constitution
and the New Jersey
Constitution.�
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution
prevents the government from prohibiting the free exercise of religion and the
freedom to
peaceably assemble and the New Jersey
Constitution specifically protects the manner

of worshipping
Almighty God.
The Supreme Court of the United States determined that
certain COVID-19 restrictions in the states of California, Colorado, and New
York, in particular indoor gathering restrictions and religious household
gathering restrictions, violated religious liberty as guaranteed by the First
Amendment.� Governor Murphy has utilized his gubernatorial powers aggressively
since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that have abridged, and
not protected, the freedom of New Jersey residents.� Restrictions on religious
gatherings in New Jersey during the COVID-19 health emergency potentially
violated certain unalienable rights protected by the Constitution of the United
States, and in light of these violations, the Legislature of New Jersey urges
the Governor of New Jersey to protect religious liberty during a declared state
of emergency.