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SCR70 • 2026

Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public office.

Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public office.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Amato, Carmen F., Jr.
Last action
2026-01-28
Official status
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation 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.

Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public office.

Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public office.

What This Bill Does

  • Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public office.
  • Topic: State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation 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. 2026-01-28 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee

Official Summary Text

Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public office.
Topic:
State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SCR70

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 70

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JANUARY 28, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.

District 9 (Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit person
convicted of criminal offense, as defined by law, from holding elective public
office.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
proposing to amend Article II, Section I of the
Constitution of the State of New Jersey by adding a new paragraph 8.

����
Be It Resolved

by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

���� 1.��� The following proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is hereby agreed to:

PROPOSED
AMENDMENT

���� Amend Article II, Section I by
adding a new paragraph 8 to read as follows:

���� 8.��� Any person who has been
convicted of a criminal offense, as defined by law, shall be prohibited from
holding any elective public office in this State.

���� 2.��� When this proposed
amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX,
paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the
next general election occurring more than three months after the final
agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of
each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
General Assembly and the Attorney General, not less than three months prior to
the general election.

���� 3.��� This proposed amendment
to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the
following manner and form:

���� There shall be printed on each
official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

���� a.���� In every municipality
in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede
the question, as follows:

���� If you favor the proposition
printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (
T
) in the square opposite the word
"Yes."� If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or
check (
T
) in the square
opposite the word "No."

���� b.��� In every municipality
the following question:

CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT TO BAR PERSONS CONVICTED OF A CRIME FROM SERVING AS AN ELECTED
PUBLIC OFFICIAL

YES

���� Do you approve amending the
Constitution to bar any person who has been convicted of a crime from serving
as an elected public official in this State?

INTERPRETIVE
STATEMENT

NO

�� This change
to the Constitution would bar any person who has been convicted of a crime
from serving as an elected public official in this State.

STATEMENT

���� This proposed amendment to the
Constitution would prohibit any person who has been convicted of a crime, as
defined by law, from serving as an elected public official in this State.