This bill requires New Jersey to create a statewide data system that tracks individuals' educational and workforce information from preschool through employment. It directly affects students, public schools, colleges, and workforce officials by connecting data across these stages. Key provisions include establishing a working group to determine data elements (like enrollment, test scores, transcripts, and earnings), ensuring privacy and security, and building a system operational within two years. The system will link records to improve education planning, college access, and workforce outcomes while making non-confidential data publicly available.
This bill prohibits landlords from conducting "hard credit inquiries" (which can lower a tenant's credit score) when screening applicants for affordable housing, defined as low- or moderate-income households with housing subsidies or applying to subsidized units. Landlords may only use "soft credit inquiries" (consent-based, with no score impact) for these applicants. Violations incur escalating fines: $100 for the first offense in a year, then $200 more for each subsequent offense. The bill also requires consumer reporting agencies to count multiple hard inquiries within one month for rental applications as a single inquiry to prevent score damage, and mandates the housing department to post online resources about these rules within six months.
This bill requires New Jersey telecommunications companies to automatically provide prorated bill credits or refunds to customers experiencing service outages lasting more than 72 hours. It directly affects all telecom providers regulated by the state board, including traditional phone services and VoIP providers, and their customers. The key mechanism mandates that companies adjust bills proportionally for the outage duration without requiring customers to request the refund. The law specifies that refunds must be applied automatically to the next billing cycle, with no customer action needed. This applies to both local exchange carriers and interexchange telecommunications companies providing regulated services.
This bill increases tax credits for investors in New Jersey's emerging technology businesses. It raises the base credit rate from 20% to 30% of eligible investments, and boosts the enhanced rate from 25% to 35% for investments in qualified opportunity zones, low-income communities, or businesses certified as minority/women-owned. The credit is capped at $500,000 per investment annually, with a total annual limit of $35 million across all credits. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will administer the program, requiring applicants to demonstrate compliance with diversity or location criteria for the higher credit rate.
This New Jersey Senate Resolution (SR 71) urges Congress and the President to enact the federal "Kids Online Safety Act." It does not create new laws but formally requests federal action to address social media's impact on minors. The resolution cites research linking social media use to rising mental health issues among children (ages 8-17), noting increased screen time and documented mental health risks. It specifically calls for the federal act to promote data safety, limit addictive design features, expand parental controls, and prevent harmful content for minors. As a non-binding resolution, it directly affects federal lawmakers but does not change current policy.
This New Jersey bill increases tax credits for corporations conducting research. It raises the credit rate from 10% to 15% for businesses primarily operating in targeted industries like clean energy, life sciences, and advanced technology. It also increases the basic research payment credit rate to 15% and allows the total credit to be refundable (meaning businesses can receive cash payments even if they owe no tax). The law applies to corporations in industries identified by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, including innovation-focused sectors such as autonomous vehicles, hemp processing, and digital media.
Bill A2466 allocates $200 million to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to upgrade technology for the unemployment insurance (UI) system. The funds will be used to modernize the Division of Unemployment Insurance's infrastructure, which faced significant strain during the pandemic-era surge in claims. If federal pandemic relief funds are unavailable, the state will use money from its "Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund" instead. The department must submit an implementation plan to the Legislature within 60 days detailing how the funds will improve UI service delivery for residents filing claims.
New Jersey's A1359 prohibits the non-consensual creation and distribution of deepfake pornography. The bill makes it a crime (ranging from third to fourth degree) to secretly record or share deceptive images/videos falsely depicting someone in intimate situations without consent, including deepfakes that mimic real people. It specifically targets "deceptive audio or visual media" created through technical means, imposing criminal penalties and a civil fine up to $30,000 for violations. This law directly affects individuals who produce or share such content without consent, aiming to protect people from non-consensual sexual exploitation through technology.
This bill requires CATV companies (cable providers) to provide free broadband Internet service, including necessary equipment like routers, to public libraries, fire stations, police stations, public schools, and other municipal buildings used for public purposes. It directly affects CATV companies operating under system-wide franchises in New Jersey, mandating this service without charge as part of their franchise applications or renewals. Key provisions include requiring business-class bandwidth for public libraries proportional to their needs, while other covered buildings receive basic service. The requirement applies only to buildings explicitly listed in the bill and is tied to new franchise approvals or renewals after the bill's effective date.
This bill requires New Jersey long-term care facilities (like nursing homes) and home/community-based care providers to implement certified electronic health record systems within 270 days, with state grants available to support this transition. It also clarifies that telehealth services provided in long-term care settings must receive reimbursement rates equal to in-person services (with limited exceptions for audio-only visits), ensuring parity for these settings. Additionally, facilities must provide internet, TV, and phone access in every resident room within six months, with funding available to help cover costs. These requirements apply directly to licensed long-term care facilities and home-based providers, aiming to improve care coordination and resident connectivity.
