Trenton, NJ – A newly filed New Jersey Senate bill would prohibit state agencies from imposing civil penalties on other state agencies, a move that would block internal enforcement actions that currently have no explicit statutory restriction.
Senate Bill 132, pre-filed for the 2026 legislative session, is sponsored by Sen. James W. Holzapfel, a Republican representing Monmouth and Ocean counties. The measure supplements existing law by drawing a clear line against one arm of state government levying civil fines against another.
Under the bill, no state administrative agency, or any of its divisions, boards, bureaus, or offices, would be permitted to assess, impose, or enforce a civil penalty on another state agency or its internal entities. The prohibition would apply regardless of any other provision of law that might otherwise authorize such penalties.
The legislation is narrowly focused and does not alter private enforcement actions, municipal penalties, or criminal sanctions. Its scope is limited to civil penalties imposed by state agencies on other state agencies.
According to the bill’s statement, current law does not expressly prevent state agencies from seeking civil penalties against one another, creating the potential for interagency enforcement actions within state government. The proposal would eliminate that possibility by statute.
The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and is pending technical review by legislative counsel.
A New Jersey Senate bill would stop state agencies from fining other state agencies by law.