"Transparency in Federal Law Enforcement Activities Act"; establishes law enforcement officer identification requirements under certain circumstances.

S3216

SENATE, No. 3216

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JANUARY 28, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� TROY SINGLETON

District 7 (Burlington)

Senator� LINDA R. GREENSTEIN

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Timberlake

SYNOPSIS

���� �Transparency in Federal Law Enforcement Activities
Act�; establishes law enforcement officer identification requirements under
certain circumstances.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning law enforcement officer identification
requirements and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.�

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

���� 1.��� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �Transparency in Federal Law Enforcement Activities
Act.��

���� 2.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:

���� a.���� The Constitution of the
State of New Jersey vests the State with broad police powers to protect the
safety, welfare, and liberty of its residents.�

���� b.��� Consistent with the
principles of federalism, the State retains sovereign authority over the
conduct of its law enforcement officers, the management of its property, and
the protection of the Constitutional rights of persons within its
jurisdiction.�

���� c.���� Federal immigration
enforcement is a federal function; however, when federal agents operate within
this State or seek cooperation from State or local law enforcement agencies,
this cooperation should comply with State transparency, civil rights, and accountability
standards.�

���� d.��� The people of New Jersey
have the right to know the identity and authority of any person exercising
police powers within the State.

���� e.���� This level of
transparency fosters public trust, prevents impersonation, and ensures that
residents can verify the lawful authority of any person claiming to act under
color of law.�

���� f.���� Recent incidents
involving unmarked or unidentified federal officers operating in other states
have increased public concern about accountability and due process.��

���� g.��� The purpose of this act
is to ensure that federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel who
cooperate during a law enforcement operation in this State conduct themselves
in a transparent manner consistent with constitutional guarantees and the State�s
sovereign responsibility to protect its residents.�

���� 3.��� As used in this act:

���� �Law enforcement operation�
means any action taken to detain, arrest, or question a person under color of
law.�

���� �Federal agent� means an
employee or contractor of a federal law enforcement agency including, but not
limited to, the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), or Customs and Border Protection (CBP).�

���� �Participating agency� means
any State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency that cooperates or
assists in a law enforcement operation.

���� 4.��� a.� A federal law
enforcement operation shall not be conducted in this State or in cooperation
with any State or local law enforcement agency unless all participating
personnel:

���� (1)�� display clearly visible
identification that includes the person�s name and agency of employment; and

���� (2)�� verbally state the
person�s name and agency of employment upon the request of any person being
questioned, detained, or arrested.�

���� b.��� A State or local law
enforcement officer shall not assist or participate in any law enforcement
operation in which federal agents fail to comply with subsection a. of this
section.�

���� 5.��� a.� Any State or local
law enforcement officer who violates the provisions of section 4 of this act
shall be subject to administrative disciplinary action as permitted by law.�

���� b.��� Any person who is
questioned, detained, or arrested by a person in violation of section 4 of this
act shall have a private right of action in the Superior Court for declaratory
and injunctive relief.�

���� c.���� Nothing in this act
shall be construed to interfere with lawful federal action, but shall apply
when State and local law enforcement agencies cooperate or act jointly with
federal agents or in support of a federal law enforcement operation in this
State.�

���� 6.��� The Attorney General
shall establish guidelines as necessary to effectuate the provisions of this
act.�

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill, entitled the
�Transparency in Federal Enforcement Activities Act,� establishes
identification requirements for law enforcement officers under certain
circumstances.�

���� Under the bill, a federal law
enforcement operation cannot be conducted in this State or in cooperation with
any State or local law enforcement agency unless all participating personnel:

���� (1)�� display clearly visible
identification that includes the person�s name and agency of employment; and

���� (2)�� verbally state their
name and agency of employment upon the request of any person being questioned,
detained, or arrested.�

���� The bill prohibits State or
local law enforcement officers from assisting or participating in any law
enforcement operation if federal agents do not comply with the bill�s
identification requirements.� Any State or law enforcement officer who violates
the bill�s provisions is subject to administrative disciplinary action.�

���� In addition, the bill creates
a private right of action for declaratory and injunctive relief for any person
who is questioned, detained, or arrested in violation of the bill�s
provisions.�

���� The bill states that its
provisions are not to be construed as interfering with lawful federal action
and apply when State and local law enforcement agencies provide support for a
federal law enforcement operation or cooperate with, or act jointly with, federal
agents in this State.�

���� Under the bill, the Attorney
General is to establish guidelines necessary to effectuate the bill�s
provisions.