WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 3695

Relates to prohibiting the inclusion of a confession of judgment in a contract or agreement for a financial product or service

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Shelley Mayer and 3 co-sponsors

Requires statewide guidance on K-12 student phone/social media use and mandates districts to adopt policies aligned with it, balancing learning with safety and health needs.

1ST REPORT CAL.831
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3695

Summary — S 3695

Relates to student use of cell phones and social media platforms in K–12 schools; requires the Department of Education to issue guidance and requires school districts to adopt consistent policies.

Main purpose

To standardize and support school district policies governing student use of cell phones and social media during the school day, on school buses, and at school‑sanctioned events — promoting student learning and well‑being while allowing for necessary safety and health accommodations.

Key provisions

  • Requires the Commissioner of Education to develop statewide guidance applicable to students in grades K–12 regarding student use of cell phones and social media when under the direct supervision of school staff. (The guidance is to be issued no later than 90 days after the law’s effective date in earlier versions of the bill.)
  • Minimum elements the guidance must address include:
    • Age‑appropriate and grade‑level differentiated limits and prohibitions.
    • Prohibition of non‑academic use of phones/social media during classroom instruction.
    • Consistency with State and federal law and accommodations in a student’s IEP, Section 504 plan, educational plan, or student health plan.
    • Permission for phone use in emergencies or in response to a perceived threat of danger.
    • Permission for phone use when a parent/guardian provides health‑care professional documentation showing the device is necessary for the student’s health/well‑being.
    • Coverage of device types (smartphones, text/voice phones, smart watches, etc.).
    • Options for device storage (e.g., locked pouches, lockers).
    • Guidance on district network‑based restrictions to limit access to social media platforms.
    • Protocols for communicating district policies to students, families, and staff.
  • Requires each board of education to adopt a policy consistent with the Commissioner’s guidance. Districts may adopt more stringent policies than the State guidance.
  • Assembly committee amendments (March 10, 2025) modified the measure to:
    • Use the term “guidelines” (Commissioner) and require districts to adopt policies consistent with those guidelines.
    • Explicitly reference student health plans.
    • Add the American Federation of Teachers and the New Jersey Association of School Administrators to the list of stakeholders the Commissioner should consult.
    • Clarify that a principal/designee may make reasonable accommodations for educational uses of devices.
    • Remove a prior provision permitting the Commissioner to exempt a district from adopting a policy.

Who is affected

  • Students (grades K–12), parents/guardians, school boards, school administrators and staff, and the New Jersey Department of Education. District technology/network administrators will be affected by guidance on network restrictions.

Timeline / procedural status

  • Passed Senate (35–0) — Jan 14, 2025.
  • Reported favorably by the Assembly Education Committee with amendments — March 10, 2025.
  • Referred to the Assembly Code Committee — April 3, 2025.
  • If enacted, the bill’s provisions would apply beginning the first full school year after the law’s effective date; earlier drafts required issuance of the Commissioner’s guidance within 90 days of enactment.

Sponsors and related bills

  • Sponsors listed in documents include Senators Paul D. Moriarty and Kristin M. Corrado (and co‑sponsors Turner, O'Scanlon, Gopal) and legislative sponsors listed elsewhere (James Sanders Jr., Jessica Ramos, Shelley Mayer, Kevin S. Parker).
  • Companion/related bills: A4882, A4327; prior‑session related measures: S3851, S2632, S5256.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.