A 3929 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Prohibits use of biometric surveillance system by business entity under certain circumstances.

This New Jersey bill (A 3929) prohibits businesses from using facial recognition or biometric surveillance systems on customers at their physical locations, except when providing clear notice (like a visible sign) and using the system for a lawful purpose. Businesses must explain decisions to deny access or remove customers based on biometric data, and cannot sell or profit from collected biometric information. Violations carry fines up to $20,000 per offense, with a 30-day window to correct first violations without penalty. The law directly affects businesses operating physical premises and their customers in New Jersey.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

General Assembly Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action May 4, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill → Introduced · 2 edits · Jan 13, 2026

MINOR

The bill moved from technical review status to introduced status. A summary statement was added at the end describing the bill's provisions on biometric surveillance systems in consumer settings, including notice requirements, data-use restrictions, and penalties. No changes were made to the operative legal text of the bill itself.

TECHNICAL

A STATEMENT section was appended summarizing the bill's key provisions: prohibition on biometric surveillance without notice and lawful purpose, sign-posting requirement for notice, obligation to explain denials or removals based on biometric data, a 30-day safe harbor for first violations, prohibition on selling or sharing biometric data, and penalties of up to $10,000 (first offense) or $20,000 (subsequent offenses) plus cease and desist orders, punitive damages, and treble damages.

The bill status label changed from 'A3929 TR' to 'A3929' and the version description changed from 'As reported by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee with technical review' to 'Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel,' reflecting a procedural transition rather than a policy change.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the General Assembly by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 4, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed by the Assembly (56-16-1)

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee

lower

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor