New Jersey Bill Defines Islamophobia for Civil Law
Assembly Bill A1146, introduced January 13, 2026, would define Islamophobia and remains stalled in committee.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Islam
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Should government define Islamophobia in law, even if critics fear it limits speech?
New Jersey Assembly Bill A1146, introduced on January 13, 2026, would define Islamophobia as a form of racism targeting expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness. The bill is waiting in the Assembly State and Local Government Committee and had not moved as of mid-November.
Why it matters
The bill would require police and public officials in New Jersey to consider its definition when assessing alleged anti-Muslim bias, affecting how discrimination and hate complaints are evaluated. Critics say the definition could target criticism of Islamic doctrine or politics, while the bill states it excludes criticism of Muslim-majority countries and does not infringe on free-speech rights.
The bill is partly modeled on a British parliamentary group's definition but incorporates its listed examples more directly than the British text does. Other versions of the bill have been introduced over the past five years, and it has not advanced beyond committee.
The players
New Jersey Assembly State and Local Government Committee
The legislative committee in the New Jersey General Assembly where the bill is currently pending and has not advanced.
The details
A1146 defines Islamophobia as a type of racism targeting expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness and excludes criticism of Muslim-majority countries similar to criticism of any other country. The bill states nothing in it may infringe on free-speech rights under the U.S. or New Jersey constitutions.
Timeline
January 13, 2026: Assembly Bill A1146 introduced.
Mid-November 2026: Bill still stalled in the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.
Culture Shift
New Jersey's bill draws on the British parliamentary group's definition of Islamophobia, extending a template used in the United Kingdom into a U.S. state civil and criminal framework. Its free-speech carve-outs respond to the debate that has followed similar definitions abroad.
If enacted, the definition would shape how New Jersey police and public officials evaluate complaints of anti-Muslim bias. Residents who report discrimination or hate incidents could see that definition applied to their cases.
The takeaway
Bills defining religious bias can shape enforcement without changing criminal statutes directly, so tracking committee action on A1146 shows whether the definition advances. Readers following civil-rights law in New Jersey can monitor the Assembly State and Local Government Committee's agenda.
Further reading
Explore more on Islam coverage related to this New Jersey legislation.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailywire.
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Should government define Islamophobia in law, even if critics fear it limits speech?
