# New Jersey S597: Revises penalty for underage gambling to be civil penalty; provides for all associated fines to be used for gambling addiction treatment.

New Jersey S597, Revises penalty for underage gambling to be civil penalty; provides for all associated fines to be used for gambling addiction treatment., is a 221st Legislature (2026-2027) Senate bill sponsored by James Beach (Democratic), Vincent J. Polistina (Republican); status in committee, last action 2026-10-15 (Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S597-2026-2027
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: New Jersey S597
- State: New Jersey
- Session: 221st Legislature (2026-2027)
- Title: Revises penalty for underage gambling to be civil penalty; provides for all associated fines to be used for gambling addiction treatment.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-10-15, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
- Sponsors: James Beach (Democratic), Vincent J. Polistina (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James Beach (Democratic), Senate
- Sponsor: Vincent J. Polistina (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kristin M. Corrado (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: John F. McKeon (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Shirley K. Turner (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (4)

- 2026-10-15: Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (Senate)
- 2026-10-15: Reported, 2nd Reading in Senate (Senate)
- 2026-09-28: TRANS Senate Judiciary Committee (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Introduced, 1st Reading in Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (Senate)

## Bill text

- Senate Judiciary (10/15/26 TR), 2026-10-16: [HTML](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_T1.HTM), [PDF](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_T1.PDF)
- Senate Judiciary Substitute (10/15/26), 2026-10-16: [HTML](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_S1.HTM), [PDF](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_S1.PDF)
- As Introduced, 2025-12-15: [HTML](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_I1.HTM), [PDF](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_I1.PDF)

## Related bills

- S1395: Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before end of five-year registration period. (signed)
- S4413: Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; requires school districts to develop mental health support and partner… (signed)
- S4515: Authorizes dual employment by certain employees of Rutgers University and affiliated contracting entities.* (signed)
- S4420: Authorizes regional rehabilitation and reentry center authority to determine county proportional share assessment for budget purposes. (signed)
- S2962: Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service. (signed)
- S3939: Permits dual-use solar energy projects to participate in community solar program.* (signed)

## Sources
- [Senate Judiciary (10/15/26 TR) (HTML)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_T1.HTM)
- [Senate Judiciary (10/15/26 TR) (PDF)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_T1.PDF)
- [Senate Judiciary Substitute (10/15/26) (HTML)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_S1.HTM)
- [Senate Judiciary Substitute (10/15/26) (PDF)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_S1.PDF)
- [As Introduced (HTML)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_I1.HTM)
- [As Introduced (PDF)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/S1000/597_I1.PDF)

## Related
- [S1395: Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S1395-2026-2027)
- [S4413: Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids progra…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4413-2026-2027)
- [S4515: Authorizes dual employment by certain employees of Rutgers University and affil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4515-2026-2027)
- [S4420: Authorizes regional rehabilitation and reentry center authority to determine co…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4420-2026-2027)
- [S2962: Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for mili…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S2962-2026-2027)
- [S3939: Permits dual-use solar energy projects to participate in community solar progra…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S3939-2026-2027)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S597-2026-2027 (as of 2026-11-04).
