New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey S1526: Senior citizen or veteran identity theft-increase penalties
Status: Passed one chamber, June 18, 2026
Increases penalties for identity theft when victim is a senior citizen or veteran.
What the bill says
An Act concerning identity theft penalties and amending N.J.S.2C:21-17 and P.L.2003, c.184.
From the introduced text, January 13, 2026:
An Act concerning identity theft penalties and amending N.J.S.2C:21-17 and P.L.2003, c.184. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. N.J.S.2C:21-17 is amended to read as Theft of Identity; crime. a. A person is guilty of an offense if the person: (1) Impersonates another or assumes a false identity and does an act in such assumed character or false identity for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for himself or another or to injure or defraud another; (2) Pretends to be a representative of some person or organization and does an act in such pretended capacity for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for himself or another or to injure or defraud another; (3) Impersonates another, assumes a false identity or makes a false or misleading statement regarding the identity of any person, in an oral or written application for services, for the purpose of obtaining services; (4) Obtains any personal identifying information pertaining to another person and uses that information, or assists another person in using the information, in order to assume the identity of or represent himself as another person, without that persons authorization and with the purpose to fraudulently obtain or attempt to obtain a benefit or services, or avoid the payment of debt or other legal obligation or …
Sponsors
- Carmen F. Amato, Jr. (R, 9) · primary sponsor
- Paul A. Sarlo (D, 36) · primary sponsor
- Shirley K. Turner (D, 15)
- Angela V. McKnight (D, 31)
- James W. Holzapfel (R, 10)
- Gordon M. Johnson (D, 37)
- Declan J. O'Scanlon, Jr. (R, 13)
- Owen Henry (R, 12)
- James Beach (D, 6)
- Britnee N. Timberlake (D, 34)
- Benjie E. Wimberly (D, 35)
- Vin Gopal (D, 11)
Latest actions
- : R/A REF AHU
- : PS (40-0)
- : REP 2RS
- : REF SBA
- : REP 2RS
- : INT 1RS REF SLP
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - Senior citizen or veteran identity theft-increase penalties (June 18, 2026): 40 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee: Reported favorably (June 4, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Law and Public Safety Committee: Reported favorably (May 18, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: VETERANS AND MILITARY, SENIOR CITIZENS, CRIMES AND PENALTIES
Common questions
- What is S1526?
- S1526 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Senior citizen or veteran identity theft-increase penalties.
- What does S1526 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning identity theft penalties and amending N.J.S.2C:21-17 and P.L.2003, c.184.
- What is the status of S1526?
- Passed one chamber as of June 18, 2026. Latest action: R/A REF AHU (June 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored S1526?
- Carmen F. Amato, Jr. (R, 9), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S1526?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S1526
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.