A criminal justice reform bill intended to reduce the state's growing prison population passed through the state Assembly Tuesday.
It now goes to the Senate, which must approve it before it becomes law.
The measure lessens penalties for certain crimes, such as raising the monetary threshold for a felony theft charge to $1,200.
Sponsor Message
But an amendment to the bill rolls back language in the original legislation which would have lessened jail time for some crimes, including first-time drug offenses.
That change resulted from negotiations with prosecutors and law enforcement officials.