New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey A5254: Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act-prohibit harassment or bullying
Status: Passed one chamber, October 29, 2026
"Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act"; prohibits harassment or bullying of nonpublic school students and requires nonpublic schools to adopt anti-harassment and bullying policy.
What the bill says
An Act concerning harassment and bullying in nonpublic schools and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
From the amended text, September 14, 2026:
An Act concerning harassment and bullying in nonpublic schools and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act. 2. As used in this act: Cyberbullying means harassment or bullying that occurs through any form of electronic communication. Harassment or bullying means the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation, or abuse, including cyberbullying, that: a. has, or would have, the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a students educational performance, opportunities, or benefits or on the students mental, emotional, or physical well-being; b. reasonably causes, or would reasonably be expected to cause, a student to fear for their physical safety; c. reasonably causes, or would reasonably be expected to cause, physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or d. occurs off school property and creates, or would foreseeably create, 1[a risk of substantial]1 disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation, or abuse, including verbal and nonverbal actions, might reach school property. Nonpublic school means an elementary or secondary school within the State, other than a public school, offering education for …
Sponsors
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D, 15) · primary sponsor
- Linda S. Carter (D, 22) · primary sponsor
- Andrea Katz (D, 8) · primary sponsor
- Christopher P. DePhillips (R, 40)
- Luanne M. Peterpaul, Esq. (D, 11)
- Robert J. Karabinchak (D, 18)
- Rosaura Bagolie (D, 27)
- Katie Brennan (D, 32)
- Victoria A. Flynn (R, 13)
- Erik K. Simonsen (R, 1)
- Vincent M. Kearney (D, 21)
- Aura K. Dunn (R, 25)
Latest actions
- : PA (73-4-1)
- : REP/ACA 2RA
- : INT 1RA REF AED
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act-prohibit harassment or bullying (October 29, 2026): 73 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Assembly Education Committee: Reported with committee amendments (Aca) (September 14, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: EDUCATION - SCHOOL BOARDS AND DISTRICTS
Common questions
- What is A5254?
- A5254 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Jack Reid Law: Protect All Students Act-prohibit harassment or bullying.
- What does A5254 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning harassment and bullying in nonpublic schools and supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
- What is the status of A5254?
- Passed one chamber as of October 29, 2026. Latest action: PA (73-4-1) (October 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored A5254?
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D, 15), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A5254?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A5254
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.