Education
Public School Cell Phone Ban Bill Pending in Assembly – On December 15th, NJ Spotlight News reported that some New Jersey lawmakers are interested in pushing forward bill A4882 that would require school districts to ban cell phone use by students during the school day, including class time and transitions between classes, with limited exceptions for emergencies. The legislation would prompt districts statewide to adopt “bell-to-bell” policies that restrict access to devices during instructional hours, while still permitting phones to be used in cases of safety concerns. The bill passed in the Senate and is currently pending in the Assembly and must pass before the current legislative session ends in January so that it can move to Gov. Murphy’s desk to be signed. Murphy has previously indicated in his State of the State address that he would be interested in signing the bill into law. If the bill does not pass in the Assembly before the legislative session ends, it will need to be reintroduced during the next session.
Women, Children, & Families
New Jersey Announces First-of-Its-Kind Embryo Storage Regulations – On December 15th, the New Jersey Department of Health announced that it has adopted the first comprehensive state regulatory framework for human embryo storage facilities in the U.S. The new rules require licensing standards for facilities storing eggs, sperm, and embryos; rigorous safety and tracking protocols; emergency preparedness plans; and detailed record-keeping to protect patients and their families. This initiative addresses the rapid growth in assisted reproductive technologies and aims to standardize practices that were previously governed by a patchwork of voluntary or federal guidance. Officials say the move strengthens patient protections and promotes ethical, transparent reproductive health services in the state.
NJ Assembly Advances Bill to Expand Protections for Incarcerated Women – On December 18th, New Jersey Assembly Community Development and Women’s Affairs committee voted to advance the Incarcerated Women’s Protection Act (Senate Bill S3530), first introduced in response to recent abuse scandals that led to the closure of the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women. The bill requires gender-responsive risk/needs assessments, establishes mandatory, annual training for officers supervising women, creates a Division of Women’s Services within the Department of Corrections, expands access to pregnancy care, doula services, parenting classes, and reentry support and strengthens enforcement of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards within state facilities. The legislation is meant to address systemic deficiencies in how correctional institutions handle the unique physical, medical, and trauma-related needs of women incarcerated in New Jersey, while improving safety, oversight, and reentry services.
Public Administration
Production Studio Breaks Ground on Largest Film and Television Production Campus in NJ – On December 16th, the NJ state government announced that 1888 Studios broke ground in Bayonne to mark construction of an upcoming film and television campus. The ceremony was attended by special guests, including state officials, industry partners, and the governor of New Jersey. This project is set to become the state’s largest film and television production campus and one of the largest in the nation. The campus will include 23 sound stages, supporting production infrastructure, and space designed to host both blockbuster films and TV shoots. Paramount Pictures has committed to long-term production use, signaling strong industry interest and economic potential. The campus aims to bolster New Jersey’s entertainment industry, attract high-paying jobs, and create a regional creative hub with local workforce development opportunities.
Health
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Certain Food Dyes and Additives in Consumer Foods – On December 22, two state senators announced they will be sponsoring legislation to banning certain artificial food dyes and additives that have been linked to health concerns, including cancer, hormone disruption, and behavioral issues for children. The bill would phase out four specific ingredients and additives—brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromates, propylparaben and Red Dye No. 3—in school meals and retail products over time, aligning state safety standards with those already adopted by many European countries. Supporters argue that these ingredients offer little nutritional benefit and carry long-term risks that are not adequately addressed by federal FDA standards, which makes New Jersey a potential leader in food safety and child health policy. Opponents caution that the impact will be on food manufacturers and labeling costs.