The General Assembly passed legislation today to strengthen New Jersey’s aquaculture industry by expanding the promotion of locally grown seafood through the Jersey Fresh program. Bill A3034, sponsored by Assemblymen Clinton Calabrese, Roy Freiman, and William Spearman, would direct the Department of Agriculture to advertise and promote New Jersey aquaculture products under the State’s widely recognized Jersey Fresh branding initiative. The legislation cleared the New Jersey Senate last week and now heads to the Governor’s desk for consideration.

“Aquaculture is an increasingly important part of New Jersey’s agricultural economy, and the farmers behind it deserve the same visibility and marketing support as other Jersey Fresh producers,” said Assemblyman Calabrese (D-Bergen, Passaic). “This bill helps connect consumers with high-quality, locally grown seafood while also supporting businesses and job creation along our coast and inland waterways.”

By incorporating aquaculture into Jersey Fresh promotions, the legislation aims to boost consumer awareness, increase demand for New Jersey seafood, and support sustainable food production across the state.

“New Jersey has a strong agricultural identity, and that includes our aquaculture producers,” said Assemblyman Freiman (D-Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset). “Expanding Jersey Fresh to include aquaculture ensures our marketing efforts reflect the full range of products grown and raised right here in our state.”

The bill recognizes aquaculture as a key component of New Jersey’s food system, helping producers compete in regional markets while giving consumers more opportunities to buy local.

“Our Jersey Fresh program is trusted by consumers, and this legislation puts that trusted label to work for aquaculture businesses,” said Assemblyman Spearman (D-Camden, Gloucester). “Promoting local seafood supports economic growth, sustainability, and food security for communities across New Jersey.”

Nowadays, it is rare to see a teenager without a smart phone or tablet, taking selfies with friends and sharing moments online. However, these same devices have increasingly become barriers to education, distracting students from their learning.

Today, a bill that would help school boards develop policies for the use of internet-enabled devices in school received final legislative approval. Bill A4882 sponsors—Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie, Assemblyman Cody Miller and Assemblywoman Carmen Morales—are all educators who have firsthand experience with the negative impact these devices can have in the classroom.

“The goal of this bill is to ensure that students are fully engaged in learning while they are in the classroom,” said Assemblywoman Bagolie (D-Essex, Passaic). “While internet-enabled devices such as smart phones and tablets can be useful tools, the rise of social media has unfortunately caused significant harm to our learning environments. Our bill is a response to what parents, teachers, and principals have consistently told us—they need our support. This legislation is intended to ensure that we are doing our part to help educators and our students succeed.”

Under bill A4882, the Commissioner of Education would develop age appropriate and grade differentiated guidelines to help local boards of education develop their own policies governing public school students’ use of internet-enabled devices, including smart phones, during the school day. The policies would provide some flexibility in certain cases where administrators determine the use of the device supports instruction, health or well-being.

“This legislation is designed to create a more focused learning environment and reduce distractions,” said Assemblyman Miller (D-Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester). “These policies are not about punishment, but about helping students build healthier habits and giving them the best possible chance to succeed in the classroom.”

“Children and teenagers depend on us, the adults, to make the decisions on their behalf, even when those decisions may not be popular,” said Assemblywoman Morales (D-Essex). “Educators have recognized the risks of unlimited access to internet-enabled devices, which can allow students to disengage at times when their focus and effort are most needed. By providing school boards with guidance on how to address this issue, we can better support students who truly deserve every opportunity to succeed.”