New Jersey A 1277: Prohibits twice exceptional students from being denied special education and related services due to average academic performance.

Bill Text

A1277 

ASSEMBLY, No. 1277 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman MICHAEL INGANAMORT

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Webber, Assemblywoman Fantasia and Assemblyman 
Scharfenberger

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes separate disorderly persons offense for 
persons who wear masks with purpose to conceal identity while committing 
another crime or offense.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

��

An Act concerning masks and public gatherings, 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.��� a.� It shall be a 
disorderly persons offense for a person, while congregating in a public place 
with other people who are also masked or disguised, to wear any mask or other 
facial obscurant or disguise with the purpose to conceal the person�s identity 
while committing another crime or offense.

���� A person shall not be charged 
with a disorderly persons offense, pursuant to this section, unless the person:

���� (1) is charged with an 
underlying crime or offense under Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; and 

���� (2) was wearing a mask at the 
time the person committed the underlying crime or offense.

���� b.��� This section shall not 
apply to:

���� (1) activities related to the 
celebration of Halloween;

���� (2) participants in any public 
parade or exhibition of an educational, religious, or historical character;

���� (3)�� persons wearing a mask, 
hood, or any device for protection from weather;

���� (4)�� persons wearing head 
coverings or veils in accordance with religious beliefs or customs; or

���� (5) persons wearing a mask for 
medical purposes.

���� c. �� Notwithstanding the 
provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8 or any other law, a conviction arising under 
subsection a. of this section shall not merge with a conviction of any other 
criminal offense, nor shall such other conviction merge with a conviction under 
subsection a. of this section.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill prohibits wearing a 
mask while congregating in a public place with other masked persons with the 
purpose to conceal the person�s identity while committing another crime or 
offense.� A person would not be charged for a disorderly persons offense under 
the bill, unless the person is charged with an underlying crime or offense 
under Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; and was wearing a mask at the time 
the person committed the underlying crime or offense. 

���� The bill establishes various 
exceptions to the general prohibition on wearing masks while congregating in a 
public place with other people who are also masked or disguised.� These 
include: (1) activities related to the celebration of Halloween; (2) participants 
in any public parade or exhibition of an educational, religious, or historical 
character; (3) persons wearing a mask for protection from weather; (4) persons 
wearing head coverings or veils in accordance with religious beliefs or 
customs; or (5) persons wearing a mask for medical purposes.

���� Finally, the bill also 
prohibits the merger of this crime with another for the purpose of reducing a 
defendant�s sentence.� It is a disorderly persons offense to violate the 
provisions of the bill.� A disorderly offense is punishable by up to six months 
imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.