Bill Text: NJ S4469 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires boards of education to adopt policy on use of artificial intelligence; requires DOE to establish model policy.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-15 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S4469 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S4469-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires boards of education to adopt policy on use of artificial intelligence; requires DOE to establish model policy.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of artificial intelligence in public schools and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section, "artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model inference to formulate options for information or action.
b. The board of education of a school district shall adopt a policy concerning the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the schools of the district. The board shall review the policy annually and update the policy as appropriate. The policy, at a minimum, shall:
(1) establish a process through which students, parents or guardians, employees of the district, or residents of the district may submit questions or concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the schools of the district;
(2) address potential equity issues concerning student access to artificial intelligence systems, including accessibility for students with limited access to technology, students with disabilities, and English language learners; and
(3) establish expectations, standards, and approval processes for the safe, transparent, and responsible implementation and integration of artificial intelligence in the schools of the district, including appropriate oversight and professional judgment by employees of the district.
c. A school district shall post the artificial intelligence policy required pursuant to subsection b. of this section in a prominent location on the district's Internet website.
d. To assist boards of education in developing a policy pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the Commissioner of Education shall develop and make available a model policy concerning the responsible use of artificial intelligence in school districts. In developing the model policy, the commissioner may consult with the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, the Chief Innovation Officer for the State, and representatives of the artificial intelligence and education communities. The model policy shall be periodically updated as the commissioner deems necessary.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the board of education of a school district to adopt a policy concerning the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the schools of the district. The policy, at a minimum, would:
(1) establish a process through which students, parents or guardians, employees of the district, or residents of the district, may submit questions or concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the schools of the district;
(2) address potential equity issues concerning student access to artificial intelligence systems, including accessibility for students with limited access to technology, students with disabilities, and English language learners; and
(3) establish expectations, standards, and approval processes for the safe, transparent, and responsible implementation and integration of artificial intelligence in the schools of the district, including appropriate oversight and professional judgment by employees of the district.
The board of education of a school district is required under the bill to review the policy annually and update the policy as appropriate. The district would also be required to post the policy in a prominent location on the district's Internet website.
The bill also requires the Commissioner of Education to develop and periodically update a model policy concerning the responsible use of artificial intelligence in school districts. The commissioner would be required to make the model policy available to school districts. In developing the model policy, the commissioner may consult with the Chief Technology Officer of the Office of Information Technology, the Chief Innovation Officer for the State, and representatives of the artificial intelligence and education communities.
