New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey S4831: Youth Well-Being & Digital Accountability Act & Fund-establish
Status: In committee, October 15, 2026
Establishes Youth Well-Being and Digital Accountability Act and Fund; creates independent authority to administer funds from social media settlements once threshold is met.
What the bill says
An Act establishing the Youth Well-Being and Digital Accountability Act and Fund, and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
From the introduced text, October 15, 2026:
An Act establishing the Youth Well-Being and Digital Accountability Act and Fund, and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the Youth Well-Being and Digital Accountability Act. 2. The Legislature finds and declares: a. Addressing youth mental health is an urgent public health priority. b. Growing evidence links certain digital technologies, including social medical platforms, online gaming platforms, and algorithmically amplified content to adverse mental health outcomes among children, youth, and young adults. c. Over 40 states have pursued litigation against technology companies seeking compensation for harms associated with social media platforms. d. Experience has shown that large-scale litigation settlements proceeds, absent a dedicated governance structure and binding transparency requirements, are vulnerable to being diverted from their intended purpose. Following the 1998 tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, many states directed the large majority of settlement proceeds to general government purposes rather than tobacco prevention and cessation. Likewise, opioid settlement funds have also been diverted for purposes unrelated to opioid remediation. This history underscores the need for a dedicated, independent, and transparent structure to govern the use of settlement proceeds under this act. e. Positive youth development opportunities, including before- and after-school, summer, outdoors, sports, arts, …
Sponsors
- Nicholas P. Scutari (D, 22) · primary sponsor
- M. Teresa Ruiz (D, 29) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : INT 1RS REF SHH
Subjects: COMMUNICATIONS - INTERNET
Common questions
- What is S4831?
- S4831 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Youth Well-Being & Digital Accountability Act & Fund-establish.
- What does S4831 do?
- In its own words: An Act establishing the Youth Well-Being and Digital Accountability Act and Fund, and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
- What is the status of S4831?
- In committee as of October 15, 2026. Latest action: INT 1RS REF SHH (October 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored S4831?
- Nicholas P. Scutari (D, 22), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for S4831?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S4831
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.