New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey S4713: Moksha's Law-expand recovery of damages in civil action, death of cert animals
Status: In committee, October 1, 2026
"Moksha's Law"; expands recovery of damages in civil action arising from death of certain animals.
What the bill says
An Act concerning civil actions for damages for the death of certain animals and designated Mokshas Law, supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing R.S.4:19-8.
From the introduced text, October 1, 2026:
An Act concerning civil actions for damages for the death of certain animals and designated Mokshas Law, supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing R.S.4:19-8. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. Pets and service animals are valuable and treasured members of many New Jersey families. b. Under current law, when negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct leads to the death of a pet or service animal, families are extremely limited in what damages they may receive from wrongdoers through a civil action. c. These limited damages do not adequately compensate families for the loss of their pet or service animal. d. In McDougall v. Lamm, 211 N.J. 203 (2012), the New Jersey Supreme Court exacerbated this issue by holding that a pet owner may not recover for the emotional distress caused by the traumatic death of their pet. e. The purpose of Mokshas Law is to fill this gap, supersede McDougall, and provide structured, fair compensation to New Jersey families when negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct leads to the death of their pet or service animal. 2. a. Definitions. As used in this section: Domestic companion animal means an animal commonly referred to as a pet that was bought, bred, raised, …
Sponsors
- Paul D. Moriarty (D, 4) · primary sponsor
- Vin Gopal (D, 11) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : INT 1RS REF SLP
Subjects: ANIMALS
Common questions
- What is S4713?
- S4713 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Moksha's Law-expand recovery of damages in civil action, death of cert animals.
- What does S4713 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning civil actions for damages for the death of certain animals and designated Mokshas Law, supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes, and repealing R.S.4:19-8.
- What is the status of S4713?
- In committee as of October 1, 2026. Latest action: INT 1RS REF SLP (October 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored S4713?
- Paul D. Moriarty (D, 4), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for S4713?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S4713
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.