Authorizes use of campaign funds for security expenses of candidate, officeholder, staff, and certain family members.*

S3386 2R

[Second Reprint]

SENATE, No. 3386

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 9, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� PAUL A. SARLO

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Amato

SYNOPSIS

���� Authorizes use of campaign funds for security expenses
of candidate, officeholder, staff, and certain family members.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As reported by the Senate Budget and Appropriations
Committee on June 24, 2026, with amendments.

��

An Act
concerning the use of campaign funds and supplementing
P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.).

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

���� 1.��� a.�
1
[
In addition to
those uses permitted under
]

Notwithstanding the provisions of
1

section 17 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.2),
1
or any other law, rule,
or regulation to the contrary,
1

contributions received by a
candidate, candidate
committee, joint candidates committee
, or legislative leadership committee
may be used to pay for the reasonable costs of security measures for a
candidate or officeholder, members of their
1
[
immediate
]
1

family
1
who
reside in the same household
1
,
and
1
[
campaign
]
1

staff, provided that the security measures address ongoing dangers or threats
that would not otherwise exist were it not for the individual�s status or
duties as a candidate or officeholder.

���� b.��� Expenditures may be made
to pay for the following security measures, provided that such expenditures are
based on the fair market value of the goods and services:

���� (1)� non-structural security
devices, such as security hardware, locks, alarm systems, motion detectors, and
security camera systems;

���� (2) �structural security
devices, such as wiring, lighting, gates, doors, and fencing, so long as such
devices are intended solely to provide security
2
[
and not to improve the property
or increase its value
]
2
;

���� (3) �security personnel and
services that are bona fide, legitimate, and professional, and compliant with
the �Security Officer Registration Act,� P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.),
as applicable; and

���� (4) �cybersecurity software,
devices, and services.

���� c.����
1
[
Expenditures
made for the purchase or installation of physical security equipment, including
structural and non-structural security devices, shall not exceed $10,000 per
candidacy.�

���� d.
]
1�
Expenditures shall
not be made for:

���� (1)� the purchase of firearms
or ammunition;

���� (2)� payments to
1
[
immediate
]
1

family members or entities owned or operated by
1
[
immediate
]
1

family members; or

���� (3)� home improvements not
expressly authorized by subsection b. of this section.

����
1
[
e.
]

d.
1
���� Any
candidate, candidate committee, joint candidates committee, or legislative
leadership committee that authorizes an expenditure to pay for the reasonable
costs of security measures authorized pursuant to this section shall retain
documentation, including receipts, invoices, and contracts of such
expenditures, in accordance with the record retention requirements established
by P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et seq.) and the regulations of the Election Law
Enforcement Commission. �Such documents shall be considered public records,
except that no plan, design, or schematic that reveals the type or location of
the security measures installed shall be publicly disclosed.

����
1
[
f.
]

e.
1
����� Any
security devices or ongoing services purchased pursuant to this section shall
be considered an asset of the campaign and shall be appropriately dissolved
once the candidate closes out the candidate�s campaign or the officeholder is
no longer in office. �Devices and equipment
2
[
shall
]

may
2
be sold
for cost or other reasonable value.

����
1
[
g.
]

f.
1
���� The
Election Law Enforcement Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations
pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et
seq.) to effectuate the purpose of this section.

����
1
[
h. As used in
this section:

���� �Immediate family� means the
candidate or officeholder's spouse, child, parent, or sibling, and the child,
parent, or sibling of the candidate or officeholder's spouse, living in the
same household as the candidate or officeholder.
]
1

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