Technology in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 3993: Requires age verification and parent or guardian consent for minor's use of social media platform; prohibits certain messaging between adults and minors on social media platform.

This New Jersey bill requires social media companies to verify the age of all users and obtain explicit parental consent before minors under 18 can create accounts on platforms. To provide consent, parents must submit government-issued identification and credit card information, with a fee of up to 35 cents charged to the card. The law also prohibits direct messaging between adults and minors on social media platforms and mandates that accounts without proper verification be denied access within 14 days. These requirements apply to social media platforms with at least five million worldwide users that allow users to create profiles and share content.

Topics ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3011: Prohibits the use of drones by law enforcement entities.

This bill prohibits New Jersey law enforcement agencies from using drones for surveillance or other law enforcement activities, affecting police departments and officers statewide. Exceptions include drone use authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for counter-terrorism threats or by the forest fire service for wildfire monitoring (with a 350-foot altitude limit). It also bans drones for enforcing building and land-use regulations under state codes. Violating the ban can lead to civil lawsuits and the exclusion of illegally gathered evidence in court.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Policing Emerging Technology

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3833: Establishes Distraction Free Schools Grant Program; appropriates $2 million.

This bill establishes a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to promote limited student use of cell phones and social media during school hours and school events. Schools applying for grants must submit plans to reduce device distractions, while the Department of Education will develop best practices covering age-appropriate policies, emergency exceptions, and device storage options. Participating schools must annually report on how the program affects academic performance, behavior, and student well-being, with the Department compiling statewide results. The program targets all public schools in New Jersey, with grants awarded competitively based on regional diversity and need.

Topics ✓ Education ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Social Media

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

ACR 77: Declares Division of State Lottery's new rule concerning online lottery sales inconsistent with legislative intent.

ACR 77 declares that the Division of State Lottery's rule (N.J.A.C. 17:20-1.5) permitting direct online sales of lottery tickets is inconsistent with New Jersey's State Lottery Act. The bill directly affects the Division of State Lottery (part of the Department of Treasury), which had adopted the rule to allow consumers to purchase tickets via the agency's website and apps. The resolution cites a conflict with N.J.S.A. 5:9-11, which prohibits state agencies from acting as "exclusive lottery sales agents." It gives the Division 30 days to amend or withdraw the rule, or the Legislature may later invalidate it through further action. This is a procedural resolution, not a new law, focusing on aligning agency rules with existing statutory intent.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Technology

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1401: Exempts certain personal information and entities from certain requirements concerning notification and disclosure of personal data.

This bill exempts specific entities and data types from New Jersey's personal data notification and disclosure requirements under P.L.2023, c.266. It applies to healthcare providers (covered by HIPAA), financial institutions (under Gramm-Leach-Bliley), insurance entities, state agencies, consumer reporting agencies (under FCRA), research organizations (using federal human subjects protections), and other federally regulated entities. The key mechanism removes the need for these entities to comply with NJ's data disclosure rules when handling information already governed by federal laws. The bill was withdrawn in 2026 after becoming redundant due to another enacted law (P.L.2025, c.367).

Topics ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2710: Establishes "Authentic Relationships Act"; prohibits artificial intelligence relationship simulation.

The "Authentic Relationships Act" (A 2710) prohibits artificial intelligence providers in New Jersey from designing, developing, marketing, or distributing AI that simulates romantic or sexual relationships with humans, unless the AI is exclusively for legitimate medical use (e.g., treating social anxiety under a doctor’s supervision). It creates a $25,000 civil penalty per violation for providers who break this rule and allows individuals harmed by deceptive AI to sue for damages, including punitive awards. The law explicitly bans AI that intentionally deceives users into believing they are interacting with a human, aligning with New Jersey’s consumer fraud protections. It directly affects AI developers, tech companies, and users who may encounter such deceptive AI interactions. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2312: Creates separate crime for items depicting sexual exploitation or abuse of children; concerns computer generated or manipulated sexually explicit images.

This bill creates a new criminal offense for creating, sharing, or possessing digital content depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of children - including computer-generated or manipulated images that appear to show minors. It specifically targets items where a child (under 18) is identifiable by face, likeness, or distinguishing features, or where a person is manipulated to look like a minor ("purported child"). The law prohibits distributing such content via the internet or file-sharing programs, and makes possessing it with intent to share a crime. It directly affects individuals who produce, distribute, or share these materials online, regardless of whether the child is real or digitally altered.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Technology

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3299: Establishes Distraction Free Schools Grant Program; appropriates $2 million.

This bill creates a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to develop policies limiting student cell phone and social media use during school hours and school events. Schools receiving grants must create age-appropriate policies that include exceptions for emergencies, health needs, and accommodations for students with disabilities, while promoting alternatives like phone lockers and network restrictions. Participating schools must report annually on how the program affects academic performance, behavior, and student well-being, with the state later evaluating the program's effectiveness compared to non-participating schools. The program directly affects public schools seeking funding to address distractions, not individual students or parents.

Topics ✓ Education ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics School Safety Social Media

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3326: Makes use of algorithmic systems to influence price and supply of residential rental units unlawful.

This bill prohibits landlords and property management software companies from using algorithmic systems to coordinate rental prices across multiple properties. It defines a "coordinator" as any entity operating software that collects price data from multiple landlords, analyzes it with algorithms, and recommends rental rates or occupancy levels. The law makes it unlawful for landlords to subscribe to such services or for coordinators to facilitate price-fixing agreements that reduce competition. The bill addresses New Jersey's affordable housing crisis, where median rents for three-bedroom apartments rose 35% from 2021-2024 and over half of renters spend more than 30% of income on rent.

Topics ✓ Housing ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3611: Directs planning boards to submit certain data center development plans to BPU and State Planning Commission and requires State Planning Commission approval for data center development under MLUL; excludes data centers from economic development subsidies.

S 3611 would require local planning boards to submit data center development plans to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the State Planning Commission. It mandates that the State Planning Commission must approve data center projects under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL). The bill also explicitly excludes data centers from receiving state economic development subsidies. These changes would directly affect data center developers and alter local planning procedures for such projects in New Jersey.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Technology

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