This bill establishes a grant program within New Jersey's Department of Education to help public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools provide connected devices (like laptops or tablets), Wi-Fi hotspots, mobile internet access, and related equipment to students lacking them during remote learning. The grants cover full costs for devices per student, internet access per household, device accessories (e.g., cases, headsets), and insurance for theft or damage, funded primarily by federal pandemic relief funds like the CARES Act. Schools must return equipment within five days after remote instruction ends, use 95% of funds for devices (with 5% for family training on internet safety), and report on purchased items and remaining access gaps within one year. The program directly supports students and families affected by the digital divide during school closures.
This is a procedural resolution (not a bill), not a law. It urges Congress and the President to enact the federal "Kids Online Safety Act" (KOSA), which would require social media platforms to prevent addictive design features, expand parental controls, and block harmful content for minors. The resolution directly affects children and teens (ages 8-17) by advocating for federal policy changes to address mental health concerns linked to social media use. It has no binding effect and serves only as a symbolic request to federal lawmakers.
AJR 128 designates October of each year as "Cyber Security Awareness Month" in New Jersey to educate all state residents about online safety risks and responsible digital behavior. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials, private organizations, and citizens to participate in awareness activities during October. It does not create new laws or funding but aligns New Jersey with the federal National Cyber Security Awareness Month designation. The resolution aims to increase public understanding of threats like data breaches, fraud, and privacy risks, building on existing state efforts like the Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell.
This bill establishes a Social Media Research Center at a New Jersey four-year public university selected by the Higher Education Secretary. The center will conduct research on social media's effects on youth mental health, develop online safety resources for public schools, and provide recommendations to state agencies. It will also administer grants for social media research using a peer-reviewed process modeled after the NIH, and require annual reports on its work. The bill directly affects New Jersey public universities (as hosts), public schools (through educational resources), and state agencies (by requiring data sharing).
This bill (S 1826) requires online platforms primarily distributing sexually explicit material (defined as "obscene material" under New Jersey law) to verify users are at least 18 years old before accessing such content. It applies specifically to "sexually oriented online entities" where more than one-third of revenue, user accounts, or content consists of obscene material - such as dedicated adult platforms or sites with significant adult content. The law mandates using approved age verification methods, including New Jersey’s driver’s license system, to confirm users’ age before access. It does not apply to general social media or non-explicit content, focusing solely on platforms meeting the defined threshold for obscene material. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
This bill requires New Jersey public schools to include Internet safety and online predator dangers in all existing sexual abuse and assault prevention education for students in preschool through 12th grade. It amends current law (P.L.2019, c.185) to explicitly mandate this content as part of health and physical education curriculum. The Commissioner of Education must consult with specific organizations, including the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, to develop age-appropriate teaching resources. The policy directly affects all school districts and students in New Jersey's public K-12 system. The bill takes effect 30 days after enactment.
S 352, the "Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act," requires manufacturers and sellers of Internet-connected devices (like tablets or smart TVs) to include digital blocking technology that automatically restricts access to obscene material, child pornography, revenge pornography, and websites linked to human trafficking or prostitution. For devices sold to minors, the blocking must be active by default; adults can deactivate it by paying a $20 fee, and companies may pay a $20 opt-out fee per device instead. Companies must also establish a reporting system for users to flag wrongly blocked or unblocked content and fix such issues within five business days. Fees collected from consumers or companies will fund the state’s Commission on Human Trafficking, with violations punishable by fines up to $20,000 per offense.
