This bill prohibits New Jersey's public pension and annuity funds from investing in companies that collect or manipulate personal data for immigration status verification without a warrant or court order. It directly affects the state's $100+ billion pension funds (covering public employees) and companies providing immigration-related surveillance services. The law requires the State Investment Council to hire a privacy expert to identify such companies and divest all related investments by January 1, 2028, while following fiduciary standards. Annual reports must track divestment progress and identify remaining prohibited holdings.
S 847 expands New Jersey's "Daniel's Law" to protect the personal information of state legislators and their immediate families. The bill prohibits posting or sharing legislators' home addresses or unpublished phone numbers online, with violations punishable as crimes (third degree for intentional acts, fourth degree for reckless acts). It defines "covered persons" to include active, retired, or former legislators, their family members living with them, and certain public safety workers. The law exempts news media from liability for previously published information and allows disclosure only under court orders or official investigations. This is a procedural measure focused on privacy protections, not substantive policy changes.
This bill (S 172) would allow New Jersey vehicle owners to use digital license plates instead of traditional plates, if they choose. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) would establish rules for these devices, requiring them to always display the vehicle's registration number and limiting personal data stored to what's necessary. Owners would pay no extra fee beyond standard registration costs, and the use of digital plates would remain optional. The bill also requires the MVC to set standards for privacy, security, and device approval before implementation.
S 2602, the New Jersey Disclosure and Accountability Transparency Act (NJ DaTA), would require businesses collecting personal data from New Jersey residents to obtain explicit opt-in consent before processing it. The law sets strict rules limiting data collection to specific purposes, mandating security measures, and requiring transparency about how data is used. It creates a new Office of Data Protection within the Division of Consumer Affairs to enforce these requirements. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Commerce Committee as of its January 2026 introduction.
S 2783 expands Daniel's Law protections to cover judicial officers, law enforcement personnel, child protective investigators, state legislators, and their immediate family members living in the same household. It requires New Jersey's Office of Information Privacy to create a portal where these individuals can request private entities (like websites or businesses) to stop publishing their home addresses or unpublished phone numbers online. Private entities must comply within 45 business days or face criminal penalties (up to a third-degree crime for intentional violations). The law exempts news media from liability for past publications and directory services if the individual requested removal before deadlines.
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.
