New Jersey bill S 2395 elevates impersonating a public servant - specifically contact tracers during public health or state emergencies - to a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine. It also creates a new offense for defrauding people by falsely claiming an emergency (even if none is declared) to obtain personal identifying information. The bill targets individuals exploiting crisis situations to coerce others into sharing sensitive data like Social Security numbers, biometrics, or financial details. It directly affects those impersonating officials or misusing emergency claims to steal personal information, strengthening penalties from prior disorderly persons offenses. The law defines "personal identifying information" broadly to include names, addresses, account numbers, and unique biometric data.
This bill imposes a monthly tax on commercial data collectors (businesses that gather personal data for business purposes) based on the number of New Jersey consumers whose data they collect. Tax rates range from $0.05 to $0.50 per consumer, with higher tiers for larger data volumes. The first $60 million in annual tax revenue will be dedicated to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Trust Fund, specifically to support New Jersey’s 9-8-8 crisis hotline and behavioral health services. The tax applies to data collected from consumers with New Jersey addresses or IP connections, and businesses may claim credits for similar taxes paid to other states.
This bill (S 174) prohibits public disclosure of personal identifying information - such as names and addresses - in appeals documents related to unemployment, temporary disability, and family leave claims. It directly affects individuals who file these appeals by keeping their personal details confidential in public records. The key mechanism requires state agencies to redact or withhold such information from documents made available under open records laws. This amendment updates existing confidentiality protections under New Jersey law to specifically cover these types of benefit appeals. The bill does not change eligibility rules or benefit amounts, only how personal data is handled in appeal records.
This bill requires businesses in New Jersey's financial, essential infrastructure (like utilities), and healthcare sectors to create cybersecurity plans and report certain incidents. Specifically, "sensitive businesses" must develop programs following industry standards (such as NIST frameworks), identify a cybersecurity lead, conduct risk assessments, and submit annual compliance certifications. They must also report incidents affecting billing systems, data privacy, or industrial control systems (e.g., power grid operations) to the New Jersey Cybersecurity Cell. The bill applies only to covered businesses operating in New Jersey and does not create new penalties for noncompliance.
This bill makes it a crime to disclose someone's personal information without consent when it creates a risk of physical harm, stalking, or severe emotional distress. It specifically targets disclosures that cause a "close relation" (like family, household members, or close associates) to fear for their safety or experience mental anguish. Exceptions include reporting suspected crimes to police or sharing information about public officials' misconduct in good faith. Violations are punishable as a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine), with harsher penalties if injury or stalking occurs.
This New Jersey bill (S 2972) protects judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, child protective investigators, and their immediate families by making it illegal to post their home addresses or unpublished phone numbers online without authorization. It creates a new criminal offense for "doxxing" these public servants (posting personal information to harass them) and increases penalties for threats against them. The law requires online platforms to remove such information upon request from authorized officials like court clerks or U.S. Marshals. Violations could lead to criminal charges and stronger restraining orders for affected individuals.
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.
