This bill establishes the crime of political violence in New Jersey, defining it as actions taken with the intent to interfere with or retaliate against individuals based on their political affiliation or expression. The bill outlines specific criminal offenses that qualify as political violence, including homicide, assault, kidnapping, and terrorism, among others. It stipulates that political violence is graded as a crime one degree higher than the most serious underlying offense, with first-degree crimes resulting in a potential prison sentence of 15 to 30 years. Additionally, the bill prohibits the merging of convictions for political violence with those of the underlying offenses and clarifies that a defendant's mistaken belief regarding a victim's political affiliation is not a valid defense.

To ensure accountability and transparency in the handling of political violence cases, the bill creates the Political Violence Review Board, which will review investigations, collect data, and analyze potential disparities in the treatment of complaints based on various demographic factors. The board will consist of 11 members appointed by the Governor, with specific representation requirements to maintain political balance. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Division of Criminal Justice to develop training for law enforcement and prosecutors on handling political violence cases, ensuring that they are equipped to respond appropriately to such incidents. The sponsors of the bill aim to address the rising trend of politically motivated violence while emphasizing that the legislation is not intended to restrict free speech.