New Jersey Assembly Bill ACR141

New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/19/26
• Refer: 3/19/26

Caption

Proposes constitutional amendment to limit effective period of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by Governor to 14 days.

Summary

ACR141 proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit the duration of certain emergency orders, rules, and regulations issued by the Governor during a state of emergency to 14 days. Under the proposal, those measures would automatically terminate on the 15th day after issuance unless the Legislature extends them by concurrent resolution. The amendment also bars the Governor from reissuing the same or substantially the same emergency action for the same emergency after it expires. The resolution includes several exceptions. It would not apply to orders rescinding prior emergency actions, measures required by federal law or federal agreement, actions that apply only to the executive branch, orders issued under the Governor’s authority as Commander-in-Chief of the State’s military forces, or measures authorized by other laws that already provide a longer period. If approved by the Legislature and then by voters, the amendment would be placed on the ballot at a general election and would change the State Constitution rather than ordinary statute.

Impact

If adopted, the amendment would alter the balance of emergency powers in New Jersey by imposing a constitutional time limit on many gubernatorial emergency directives. It would require legislative participation to keep such orders in effect beyond 14 days, and it would constrain the Governor’s ability to renew or replace expired orders with substantially similar ones during the same emergency. The proposal would not directly amend the Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act itself, but it would supersede the Governor’s current ability under state law to maintain emergency orders without a fixed expiration in the covered circumstances.

Sentiment

The available materials suggest the bill is framed as a check on executive emergency authority, with an emphasis on legislative oversight and time limits. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided context, there is no documented floor or committee sentiment to measure. The bill text itself presents the measure as a constitutional safeguard rather than a policy expansion, indicating support from those concerned about prolonged emergency powers and likely opposition from those who favor broader executive flexibility during crises.

Contention

The main point of contention is the scope of gubernatorial emergency power versus legislative control. Supporters would likely view the 14-day limit as a necessary constraint to prevent open-ended emergency governance, while opponents may argue that emergencies often require longer, faster executive action without repeated legislative approvals. Another likely issue is the prohibition on reissuing substantially similar orders, which could be seen as preventing circumvention of the time limit but also as reducing the Governor’s ability to respond to evolving emergency conditions. The exceptions for federal compliance, executive-branch-only actions, and military authority suggest the bill tries to narrow its reach, but those carveouts may also be debated as to whether they are sufficient or too broad.