Bill
Bill > A3000
NJ A3000
NJ A3000Prohibits selective suspension of candidates for elective office by social media websites.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill, notwithstanding the provisions of State law, and consistent with federal law, prohibits a social media website, as defined in the bill, from willfully selectively suspending, commonly referred to as "deplatforming," a candidate for office who is known by the social media website to be a candidate, beginning on the date of the qualification and ending on the date of the election or the date the candidate ceases to be a candidate. A social media website is to provide each user of the social media website a method by which the user may be identified as a qualified candidate and which provides sufficient information to allow the social media website to confirm the user's qualification by reviewing the Internet website of the Division of Elections in the Department of State or the Internet website of the local board of elections. The bill provides that a social media website that willfully provides free advertising for a candidate is to inform the candidate of that in-kind contribution. Posts, content, material, and comments by candidates that are shown on the social media website in the same or similar way as other users' posts, content, material, and comments are not to be considered free advertising. The bill provides that, upon finding a violation of the provisions of the bill by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, in addition to any remedies available pursuant to State law, the commission may assess a social media website a penalty of $250,000 per day for a violation affecting a candidate for Statewide office and $25,000 per day for a violation affecting a candidate for other offices.
AI Summary
This bill prohibits social media websites, defined as for-profit online platforms with over $100 million in annual gross revenue and at least 100 million global monthly users, from intentionally "selectively suspending" (meaning banning or deleting accounts for more than 60 days) candidates for elected office. This protection applies from the date a candidate qualifies to run until the election or when they cease to be a candidate. Social media platforms must provide a way for users to identify themselves as qualified candidates, allowing the platform to verify their status through official election websites. If a social media website provides free advertising to a candidate, it must inform the candidate of this in-kind contribution, though standard posts, content, and comments shown similarly to other users will not be considered free advertising. Violations found by the Election Law Enforcement Commission can result in daily penalties of $250,000 for violations affecting statewide candidates and $25,000 for other candidates.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A3000 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3000/3000_I1.HTM |
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