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.
This New Jersey bill requires school districts to create policies for students using internet-connected medical devices (like remote monitoring tools) prescribed by healthcare providers. The policies must be developed within 90 days and cover parental information sharing, strict data privacy protections, and staff training. School districts must also maintain necessary technology infrastructure, with funding available through a new "Medical Device Technology Fund" grant program. Districts must annually report student usage numbers, implementation challenges, and suggestions for improvement to the state education commissioner. The bill directly affects school districts, students with medical devices, and their parents/guardians.
This bill removes a restriction that previously required local governments (counties, municipalities, and other local units) to provide broadband services only through "wireless community networks." It allows local units to choose any method - wireless, wired, or other infrastructure - to build, operate, or contract for broadband telecommunications service. The change gives local governments greater flexibility in how they deliver high-speed internet access to residents and businesses within their jurisdictions. This is a direct policy change affecting all New Jersey local governments seeking to expand broadband infrastructure.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Treasury to review and approve a blockchain-based digital payment platform designed for legal, licensed businesses without access to traditional banking services (often operating cash-only). The platform would enable cashless transactions with a 1:1 virtual currency-to-dollar exchange, managed through an immutable blockchain ledger that records all business transactions. Businesses must obtain state approval to use the platform, which would also handle sales tax payments to municipalities and support regulatory compliance and audits. The law aims to expand digital commerce access for underserved businesses while ensuring security and transparency.
This bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create a centralized online system allowing vehicle owners to view and pay for outstanding parking or traffic violations using their license plate number. The system must let users check unpaid tickets and pay fines electronically, while meeting strict cybersecurity standards to protect user data through encryption. It directly affects all New Jersey drivers who own vehicles registered in the state. The MVC must establish this system within seven months of the bill's enactment, with implementation coordinated with courts.
This bill requires owners or operators of solar energy facilities 1 megawatt or larger to inspect power inverters and related infrastructure within six months for remote-access devices that could allow unauthorized disruption of operations. Affected components must be replaced with secure alternatives. New facilities of this size cannot begin operations without completing this inspection. The law aims to address security risks identified by experts, where unlisted devices in inverters could potentially enable grid disruptions by hostile actors.
This bill requires New Jersey SNAP retailers (stores that accept SNAP benefits) to install technology on all checkout terminals to prevent card skimming - where criminals illegally steal payment card details. Starting January 31, 2027, retailers must equip terminals with anti-skimming features approved by the Department of Human Services. The department can inspect stores, impose fines up to $5,000 per violation, and exclude repeat offenders from the SNAP program after four violations. The law directly affects SNAP retailers and aims to protect customers' payment information.
This bill amends New Jersey's stalking law to increase penalties when a perpetrator uses a device or program on the victim's phone to monitor communications or location. Normally, stalking is a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in prison and $10,000 fine), but if the stalking involves installing or using a monitoring tool on the victim's cellular or wireless device to intercept calls, messages, or track location, it becomes a third-degree crime (3-5 years in prison and up to $15,000 fine). The law specifically targets the misuse of common apps or preinstalled software, which are widely available but often used without consent in stalking cases. This change directly affects victims of tech-assisted stalking and those who exploit phone monitoring tools to harass others.
This bill creates a $100,000 grant program for New Jersey municipalities to promote local innovation achievements through street pole banners. Local governments must apply with specific plans for banners highlighting bioscience, telecommunications, clean energy, or other tech fields in their area. The state will select nine municipalities (three per region, with urban/suburban/rural representation) to receive grants for developing and installing these banners. Participating towns must report on banner installations and impacts within a year, and the state will compile results to assess potential statewide expansion.
This bill establishes a grant program through New Jersey's Economic Development Authority to attract emerging technology businesses to designated urban areas. It provides grants covering cloud computing service costs for qualifying businesses that locate or maintain headquarters in specific "urban technology zones" (like Newark, Trenton, or certain cities meeting population criteria). To qualify, businesses must have 100 or fewer full-time employees, show 20% growth in staff or revenue, and commit to keeping their U.S. headquarters in the zone for five years total (two years during the grant period plus three additional years). The program aims to boost job creation and economic growth in New Jersey's urban cores by incentivizing tech companies to use cloud-based services.
