New jersey gop lawmakers back bill defining antisemitism amid rise in incidents

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey lawmakers took a step toward formally defining antisemitism on Thursday, advancing legislation that uses a widely recognized international standard as a basis amid rising reports of antisemitic incidents in the state.

The Assembly State and Local Government Committee released bill A3558, which adopts the May 26, 2016, definition of antisemitism issued by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). The measure is backed by Assembly Republicans, including primary sponsor Michael Inganamort (R-Morris), and cosponsored by 21 members of the Assembly Republican Conference.

Assemblywoman Claire Swift (R-Atlantic), a committee member, pointed to her deep roots in the Jewish community of Margate and Atlantic County in supporting the measure. “The fact that we have to vote on a bill to define antisemitism is antiquated and inconceivable,” Swift said during the meeting.

The legislation follows the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, in which 1,200 Israelis and 46 Americans were killed, and 251 people were taken hostage. In the months since, the Anti-Defamation League has documented record-high levels of antisemitic incidents, with a 5% increase over the previous year and a 344% increase over the past five years. New Jersey ranks third in the nation for reported incidents, behind only New York and California.

Supporters of the bill said it aims to provide a consistent framework to recognize antisemitic acts while maintaining constitutional protections for free speech and academic expression.

Assemblyman Erik Simonsen (R-Cape May), who also serves on the committee, emphasized that the bill targets hate without restricting constitutional rights. “Hate speech is not free speech no matter the religion, race, ethnicity, et cetera,” Simonsen said.

The bill now advances to the full Assembly for consideration.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.