This bill requires New Jersey high schools to teach cybersecurity to students in grades nine through twelve, with the state education commissioner creating curriculum guidelines that cover basic computer skills, internet safety, and career pathways. It also directs the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to develop model curricula for four-year universities and county colleges to help them design cybersecurity degree programs that meet accreditation standards. Additionally, the bill establishes loan redemption programs for individuals working in specific cybersecurity occupations, though the exact terms of these financial incentives are not detailed in the text provided. The legislation aims to build a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals by integrating education from high school through higher education.
This New Jersey bill prohibits grocery stores and third-party delivery platforms from using dynamic, surveillance, or personalized algorithmic pricing when selling food items to consumers. The law defines these pricing strategies as those that use real-time algorithms or electronic surveillance to set different prices for individual customers based on their data, while still allowing standard discounts and loyalty program benefits. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud offenses punishable by fines, and penalty money would be collected into a special fund. That fund would then be distributed to community food pantries to help purchase groceries for those in need.
This bill makes it a fourth-degree crime to knowingly install or use electronic tracking devices or applications to monitor another person's location when doing so is intended to start or help commit an illegal act. It directly affects individuals who use GPS trackers, spyware, or similar technology to surveil others without permission, with exceptions for parents tracking minors, employers monitoring work-related vehicles, and situations involving consent or health safety concerns. The law requires written consent for tracking and automatically revokes that consent if a divorce or restraining order is filed, while also excluding government agencies from these restrictions.
This bill requires New Jersey municipalities to establish electronic systems for receiving citizen complaints and distributing official municipal announcements. Under the legislation, towns with websites must provide an online complaint form, while those without websites will use a centralized form maintained by the Department of Community Affairs. Municipalities must also offer options for residents to subscribe to electronic notifications for public meetings, budgets, emergencies, and other important updates via email, text, or social media. The bill includes a funding provision, meaning these requirements only apply if state resources are made available to cover implementation costs, and it clarifies that actions taken through these systems are not subject to the New Jersey Tort Claims Act.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families to create policies for providing security services, equipment, or technology to licensed child care facilities to ensure safe environments for enrolled children. The Department must annually meet with facility owners to discuss available funding and agree on specific security measures, with the Commissioner having final decision-making authority if an agreement cannot be reached. Child care facilities and their employees are granted immunity from civil liability when providing these security services, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Department must also develop a list of allowable expenditures for security-related items and adopt rules to implement these requirements.
This New Jersey bill requires businesses that use text-based chat with consumers to offer them the option of receiving a transcript of the conversation after it ends. Companies must clearly inform customers at the start of any chat that a transcript is available, ensuring transparency in digital communications. If businesses fail to comply with these requirements, they face penalties under the state's consumer fraud laws, including fines and potential legal action. The law applies to any commercial entity using chat tools for real-time text communication with customers.
This bill directs New Jersey state agencies to allocate $300 million from existing funds collected through the societal benefits charge and the Global Warming Solutions Fund to provide grants for building small modular nuclear reactors in the state. The legislation defines small modular reactors as nuclear power plants with a capacity of 300 megawatts or less that can operate alone or in groups and are licensed by the federal nuclear regulatory commission. The funding is intended to support construction projects starting in fiscal year 2026 and the program will expire on June 30, 2027.
This bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities to create a program that offers incentives, such as tax credits, to artificial intelligence data centers that develop their own self-sufficient clean energy sources. It requires the board to establish responsible infrastructure standards that mandate data centers build their own energy generation facilities, maintain on-site power storage like fuel cells for grid emergencies, engage with local communities, and hire and train local workers. The bill also requires the board to publish these standards and maintain a public list of certified data centers that meet the requirements.
This bill introduces stricter penalties for human trafficking that occurs through video game marketplaces and online gaming platforms in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals who facilitate or participate in trafficking schemes using digital gaming environments, including those who recruit, transport, or exploit victims through these channels. The key provision adds a specific category of human trafficking offenses related to internet and gaming platforms, classifying them as first-degree crimes with mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years without parole eligibility and substantial fines ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The legislation also requires restitution to victims based on the value of their labor or services, with funds directed to a survivor assistance fund.
This bill permanently extends pay parity for telemedicine and telehealth services in New Jersey, requiring health insurance carriers to reimburse providers at the same rates as in-person care. It directly affects insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients by mandating that out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copayments for virtual visits cannot exceed those for in-person appointments. The legislation also prohibits insurers from restricting telehealth platforms, limiting service locations, or denying coverage for routine remote monitoring if the same care would be covered in person. Additionally, carriers must continue to allow patients to choose between in-person and virtual care rather than forcing telehealth as a substitute.
