New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey A5639: Sexual assult-concerns prosecution
Status: Introduced, October 22, 2026
Clarifies that voluntary incapacitation by alleged victim of sexual assault does not bar prosecution of defendant.
What the bill says
An Act concerning sexual assault and amending N.J.S.2C:14-1 and N.J.S.2C:14-2.
From the introduced text, October 15, 2026:
An Act concerning sexual assault and amending N.J.S.2C:14-1 and N.J.S.2C:14-2. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. N.J.S.2C:14-1 is amended to read as follows: 2C:14-1. Definitions. The following definitions apply to this chapter: [a.] Actor means a person accused of an offense proscribed under this act[;] [ADDED: .] [ADDED: Coercion as used in this chapter shall refer to those acts which are defined as criminal coercion in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), and (7) of N.J.S.2C:13-5.] [ADDED: Intimate parts means the following body parts: sexual organs, genital area, anal area, inner thigh, groin, buttock or breast of a person.] [ADDED: Mentally incapacitated means that condition in which a person is rendered temporarily incapable of understanding or controlling the persons conduct due to the influence of a narcotic, anesthetic, intoxicant, or other substance, or due to an act committed upon that person which rendered the person incapable of appraising or controlling the persons conduct.] [ADDED: Physically helpless means that condition in which a person is unconscious or is physically unable to flee or is physically unable to communicate unwillingness to act.] [ADDED: Severe personal injury means severe bodily injury, disfigurement, disease, incapacitating mental anguish or chronic pain.] [ADDED: Sexual contact means an intentional touching by the victim or actor, either directly …
Sponsors
- Andrea Katz (D, 8) · primary sponsor
- Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D, 15) · primary sponsor
- Mitchelle Drulis (D, 16) · primary sponsor
- Carmen Theresa Morales (D, 34)
Latest actions
- : REP 2RA
- : INT 1RA REF AHI
Votes
- Assembly Higher Education Committee: Reported favorably (October 22, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIME VICTIMS, CRIMES AND PENALTIES
Common questions
- What is A5639?
- A5639 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Sexual assult-concerns prosecution.
- What does A5639 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning sexual assault and amending N.J.S.2C:14-1 and N.J.S.2C:14-2.
- What is the status of A5639?
- Introduced as of October 22, 2026. Latest action: REP 2RA (October 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored A5639?
- Andrea Katz (D, 8), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for A5639?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A5639
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.