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, and stipulates that such acts will be graded as a crime one degree higher than the most serious underlying offense. Additionally, it 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 or expression 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, and will prepare annual reports for the Governor and Legislature. Furthermore, the bill mandates training for law enforcement and prosecutors on the investigation and response to political violence, with the Division of Criminal Justice responsible for developing the curriculum. The sponsors aim to address the rising trend of politically motivated violence while emphasizing that the legislation does not restrict free speech.