A 5555: New penalties for protest funders and disclosure requirements for bail funds
Would create a broad new felony that can cover donors and others who fund protests, including largely peaceful demonstrations, and require groups that provide bail or legal defense support to protesters to register with the state. Under the bill, it is a third-degree felony, punishable by 3 to 5 years in prison, if a person “knowingly provides, solicits, transfers, directs, arranges, or otherwise supplies” financial assistance or “assets” with the purpose of “facilitating” or “promoting” conduct that constitutes “disorderly conduct” or “riot.” The person need not be present at the protest to be convicted. “Disorderly conduct” and “riot” are defined broadly under New Jersey law; “disorderly conduct,” for instance, includes “tumultuous conduct” and using “unreasonably loud and offensively coarse” language in public, which could cover some noisy but peaceful protests. If enacted, the bill could create significant criminal liability for any funder who knowingly donates to someone with the purpose of “facilitating” or “promoting” such protests, which could deter individuals and nonprofits from supporting protest activity. The bill separately requires any organization that provides bail assistance or legal defense funding to individuals arrested in connection with riot or disorderly conduct offenses to register with the state and disclose its principal funding sources. Failure to register within 48 hours after providing such support would be a misdemeanor, with subsequent offenses a felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison. These requirements and potential liability could deter bail funds and legal defense organizations from assisting arrested demonstrators, and discourage donors from supporting them.
(See full text of bill here)Status: pending
Introduced 24 Sep 2026.
Issue(s): Protest Supporters or Funders, Riot