New Jersey · Senate Bill · 221st Legislature
SB3182
New Jersey Senate Bill No. 3182 — An Act concerning biometric surveillance systems and supplementing P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.)

Status ● Introduced Effective N/A Passage Likelihood L

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 2 REQUIREMENT TYPES

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
Enforcement by the Division of Consumer Affairs and the Attorney General under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.). Upon a first violation, the business entity has a 30-day cure period; if compliance is demonstrated within that period, the penalty is waived. The Consumer Fraud Act independently provides a private right of action for injured consumers.
Private Right of Action
private right of action for injured consumers.
Penalties
Violations are unlawful practices under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Penalties of up to $10,000 for a first offense and up to $20,000 for any subsequent offense. Remedies include cease and desist orders, punitive damages, treble damages, and costs to the injured party. Attorney's fees are recoverable under the Consumer Fraud Act's private right of action.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
Section 1
Definitions

As used in this section: "Biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1" means any computer software that performs facial recognitionFacial recognition"Facial recognition" means an automated or semi-automated process that assists in identifying a person or capturing information about a person based on the physical characteristics of the person's face, or that logs characteristics of a person's face, head, or body to infer emotion, associations, activities, or location of the person.Section 1 or other remote biometric recognition. "Business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction. "Facial recognitionFacial recognition"Facial recognition" means an automated or semi-automated process that assists in identifying a person or capturing information about a person based on the physical characteristics of the person's face, or that logs characteristics of a person's face, head, or body to infer emotion, associations, activities, or location of the person.Section 1" means an automated or semi-automated process that assists in identifying a person or capturing information about a person based on the physical characteristics of the person's face, or that logs characteristics of a person's face, head, or body to infer emotion, associations, activities, or location of the person.

Section 1 defines the three key terms used throughout the bill. Biometric surveillance system is defined broadly as any computer software performing facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition. Business entity sweeps in virtually every form of commercial organization. Facial recognition is defined unusually broadly to include not only identification but also emotion inference, association logging, activity tracking, and location inference based on face, head, or body characteristics.

Section 2
Conditions for use of biometric surveillance systems on premises
Deployer

(a) 1 It shall be an unlawful practice and a violation of P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.) for a business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 to use any biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 on a consumer at the physical premises of the business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1, except as provided in subsection c. of this section.

(b) 1 A business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 may use a biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 on a consumer at the physical premises of the business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1, if: (1) the business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 provides clear and conspicuous notice to the consumer regarding its use of a biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1; and (2) the biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 is used for a lawful purpose. The business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 may satisfy the notice requirement of paragraph (1) of this section by posting a sign in a conspicuous location at the perimeter of any area where a biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 is being used.

(c) 2 If a business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 uses information obtained through a biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 to deny a consumer access to its premises or to remove a consumer from its premises, the business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 shall provide the consumer with a detailed explanation regarding its actions and the criteria used by the business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 in making its determination.

(d) Upon being informed of a first violation, a business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 shall comply with the provisions of this act within 30 days. Upon demonstrating compliance, any penalty provided pursuant to P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.) shall be waived.

(e) In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs may promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this section.

Section 2 establishes the core operational framework for biometric surveillance at business premises. Use of a biometric surveillance system on a consumer at a business entity's physical premises is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act unless two conditions are met: the entity provides clear and conspicuous notice, and the system is used for a lawful purpose. Notice may be satisfied by posting a sign at the perimeter of the surveilled area.

A heightened obligation applies when biometric surveillance information is used to deny a consumer access or remove a consumer from premises — the business must provide a detailed explanation of both its actions and the criteria used. Subsection (d) grants a 30-day cure period for first violations, waiving the penalty upon demonstrated compliance. Subsection (e) authorizes the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to promulgate implementing rules and regulations.

Compliance actions 2 items
1
Business entities must provide clear and conspicuous notice to consumers before using any biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 on them at the entity's physical premises, and must use the system only for a lawful purpose. Notice may be provided by posting a sign at the perimeter of the surveilled area. Use without notice is an unlawful practice.
D-01.8
2
Business entities that use biometric surveillance information to deny a consumer access to premises or to remove a consumer from premises must provide the consumer with a detailed explanation of the entity's actions and the criteria used in making the determination.
H-01.1
Section 3
Prohibition on sale or monetization of biometric surveillance data
Deployer

(a) 3 A business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1 shall not sell, lease, trade, share, or otherwise profit from information obtained through the business entityBusiness entity"Business entity" means any natural or legal person, business corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.Section 1's use of a biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 on a consumer.

(b) A violation of this section shall be an unlawful practice and a violation of P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).

Section 3 imposes a categorical prohibition on monetizing biometric surveillance data. Business entities may not sell, lease, trade, share, or otherwise profit from information obtained through biometric surveillance of consumers. There is no consent exception — the prohibition is absolute. Violations are independently classified as unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act.

Compliance actions 1 item
3
Business entities must not sell, lease, trade, share, or otherwise profit from information obtained through the use of a biometric surveillance systemBiometric surveillance system"Biometric surveillance system" means any computer software that performs facial recognition or other remote biometric recognition.Section 1 on a consumer. This prohibition is categorical — no consent exception applies.
D-01
Section 4
Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first day of the sixth month following enactment.

Section 4 sets the effective date at the first day of the sixth month following enactment. Because the bill has not been enacted, the specific effective date is not yet determinable.

Passage Likelihood

Low
Status Introduced
Chamber No passage
Committee No action
Majority party (No data)
Bipartisan No
Prior session None

Legislative History

2026-01-13 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-20
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