Education
Assembly Committee Advances Bill Limiting School Cell Phone Use – On March 10th, the Assembly Education Committee unanimously advanced Bill S3695, requiring the Department of Education to develop guidelines for restricting school cell phone and social media use. School districts would then be required to adopt policies consistent with state guidelines. Supporters argued the measure would improve educational outcomes and combat pandemic learning loss while allowing district flexibility in adopting specific policies. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, raised concerns over the cost of cellphone pouches and the ability for parents to contact their children during class. This bill comes as several other states have recently moved to pass statewide school cell phone restrictions to limit distractions and mental health concerns. Governor Murphy recently proposed around $3 million for cell phone storage pouches to support the implementation of district cell phone policies.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Federal Attempt to Cancel Teacher Training Grants – On March 11th, a Massachusetts district judge temporarily blocked the federal government’s effort to cancel millions in congressionally approved teacher training grants. The decision comes a week after Attorney General Matt Platkin, along with seven other states, sued the administration over the termination of the funding. Attorney General Platkin supported the ruling, arguing that the president’s actions were unlawful and warning that terminating the grants would decrease student support and lead to layoffs and fewer teachers entering the profession. The Trump Administration stated that the teacher training programs touch on “divisive ideologies” such as “critical race theory, DEI, and anti-racism.”
Department of Education Cuts Threaten State Funding and Operations – On March 11th, the Trump administration decided to cut nearly half of the U.S. Department of Education’s staff as part of a broader effort to dismantle the department. This threatens to disrupt over $1.2 billion in federal funding to New Jersey, with almost $900 million going to support low-income and special education students. The administration is also closing many regional offices investigating rights complaints, including those in New York and Philadelphia, potentially delaying investigations into school discrimination cases. Additionally, cuts to the Federal Student Aid office also raise concerns about the delay in processing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for New Jersey students. Critics, including state lawmakers and the Education Law Center, argued the legality of the mass layoff is in question, and it could shift financial burdens onto state taxpayers.
Public Administration
New Agreement Requires State Police to Process Expungement Orders in Four Months – On March 13th, the New Jersey State Police settled a class action lawsuit over prolonged delays in processing expungement orders. The settlement terms now require the agency to complete requests within four months. The agreement also includes new accountability measures, such as creating a website for petitioners to track expungement requests and requiring the agency to submit monthly public reports on processing statistics. Proponents of the decision argue the settlement will ensure timely expungements and allow individuals to secure jobs, housing, and professional licenses without past convictions holding them back. From April 2020 to February 2025, more than 260,000 individuals applied for expungements, with most seeking to clear already dismissed charges.
Environment
Lawmakers Advance Measure Requiring Polluters Pay for Climate-Change Damages – On March 10th, the Assembly Environment Committee advanced Bill A4696 by a 5-2 vote along party lines, which would require major corporate polluters like fossil fuel companies to reimburse the state for climate change-related damages to natural resources. The funds would then support climate change adaptation and resilience projects. The measure would apply to entities responsible for at least 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from January 1, 1995 to December 31 of the year the bill takes effect. Supporters, including environmental activists and the Climate Revolution Action Network, contended the measure would provide economic relief for taxpayers and more fairly shift financial responsibility to polluting corporations. Republican lawmakers opposed the measure, arguing it fails to clarify which companies are liable and the extent of their damages and that state actions will have little impact on addressing global climate change.