This bill requires all elementary and secondary school libraries to provide equitable access to both physical resources (like books and technology) and digital resources (like e-books and databases). It mandates that libraries offer flexible access to space and staff for students, teachers, and faculty, and that school districts allocate budgets per student to maintain relevant resources. Districts must annually evaluate libraries using a state-created rubric, and the education commissioner will establish rules for library management and reporting. The law directly affects all public school districts in the state, setting concrete standards for library access and funding.
Creates the mobile high-technology training facilities program to award one to one matching grants on a competitive basis to qualified applicants for the design, development and/or outfit of mobile high-technology training facilities that complement certificate, degree or other recognized credentialing programs.
This bill creates a legal shield against lawsuits designed to silence public speech, directly affecting activists, journalists, and citizens engaged in public debates who face baseless legal claims. It requires courts to pause evidence gathering (discovery) while deciding if a case qualifies as a "SLAPP" (a lawsuit meant to intimidate critics), and mandates faster hearings within 60-90 days of a motion being filed. If a court dismisses such a case, it may order the losing party to pay the other side’s legal fees. The law applies to lawsuits involving public participation, such as protests or criticism of government actions, aiming to protect free speech rights.
Requires warning labels on social media platforms which provide an addictive feed, autoplay, infinite scroll, like counts, and/or push notifications; directs the commissioner of mental health to design the warning label.
Establishes a public authority closed-circuit television system and surveillance personal privacy act, a state highway closed-circuit television system and surveillance personal privacy act and a municipal closed-circuit television system and surveillance personal privacy act; requires localities authorized to install and operate traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring devices to adopt and enforce measures to protect privacy.
Tags
Privacy
Restricts the use by an employer or an employment agency of electronic monitoring or an automated employment decision tool to screen a candidate or employee for an employment decision unless such tool has been the subject of an impact assessment within the last year; requires notice to employment candidates of the use of such tools; provides remedies for violations.
This bill bans the TikTok application and website from all state-issued electronic devices, including government phones, laptops, and internet-capable equipment. It directly affects state employees, contractors, and any entity working with state agencies when using state-owned or leased devices. The law prohibits both downloading TikTok and accessing its website on these devices, with immediate effect. This policy change applies to all state agencies and their contracted partners without exception.
Enacts the "media literacy act"; requires teachers and library media specialists to complete professional development related to media literacy education; requires a school library media specialist in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high school; directs the commissioner of education to appoint a media literacy advisory committee to study the teaching of media literacy; creates a media literacy advisory committee to annually review policy and procedures on media literacy.
Redefines the term "following" for a crime of stalking in the fourth degree to include the use of certain devices or computers to gain access to, record, track or report the movement or location of a person or their property without the person's permission or authority to do so.
Provides small businesses with grants of up to $100,000 to commercialize energy and environmental technology innovations and ideas in-state to stimulate economic development.
