The proposed bill in New Jersey aims to strengthen 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 if six or more individuals are involved in causing property damage or injury. Additionally, the bill introduces a new crime for the promotion of violent, disorderly assemblies, which carries penalties one degree higher than the most serious underlying crime, with a maximum of 30 years for first-degree offenses. It also elevates the desecration of public monuments during a riot to a fourth-degree crime and establishes that violations of 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 assaults 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 enhance law enforcement's ability to manage public safety during large gatherings and deter violent behavior associated with riots, reflecting a broader initiative to combat such conduct in New Jersey.