The proposed bill in New Jersey aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding riots and disorderly conduct by broadening definitions and increasing penalties. It amends N.J.S.2C:33-1 to classify participation in a riot as a third-degree crime if it involves firearms or deadly weapons, or results in property damage or injury. Additionally, it introduces a new crime of promoting violent, disorderly assembly, which penalizes individuals conspiring to commit crimes during a riot or peaceful assembly, classified as one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime. The bill also elevates penalties for desecration of public monuments during a riot to a fourth-degree crime and establishes that disorderly conduct in public accommodations during a riot will also be classified as a fourth-degree crime.

Moreover, the bill amends N.J.S.2C:12-1 to categorize assault committed during a riot as a third-degree crime and removes the presumption of non-imprisonment for first offenses if an object is thrown at or strikes a law enforcement officer, mandating a minimum six-month imprisonment. These changes are designed to strengthen law enforcement's ability to manage public disturbances and protect individuals and property, reflecting a broader initiative to combat violence and enhance public safety during such events.