The new law in New Jersey prohibits companies from using animal testing if an “appropriate, validated and alternative test method” is available. It’s unclear how those terms will be used to enforce, or not enforce, the new legislation. I’d imagine that HLS would argue that much of the testing does not have an “appropriate, validated and alternative test method.” Remains to be seen, though.

As to your second question, no, I don’t think that gathering signatures would subject you to the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. I don’t think a prosecutor could (successfully) argue that gathering petitions damages “real or personal property,” or that it instills a “reasonable fear.” Moreover, I’m assuming the signatures would be used to influence legislators, and they would be the ones to take action: in other words, it would be the legislators who’d be at risk
Best, Will