NJ Lawmaker Proposes Cellphone Ban for Legislators to Fight 'Hypocrisy'
The 'Practice What We Preach Act' would penalize lawmakers using devices during sessions with fines and jail time.
Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) has introduced legislation that would ban New Jersey lawmakers from using internet-enabled devices during official proceedings. The proposal aims to hold elected officials to the same standards recently imposed on the state's students.
The "Practice What We Preach Act" prohibits the possession or non-legislative use of internet-enabled devices from the call to order until the adjournment of committee meetings, voting sessions, or quorum calls. To ensure compliance, the bill requires the installation of storage lockers outside the legislature and committee rooms. Violators would face severe penalties, including a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, as well as one hour of mandatory detention following the session.
The School Ban Connection
The legislation is a direct response to New Jersey's recently implemented "bell-to-bell" cellphone ban for all public school students, which takes effect for the 2026-27 school year. Bergen, who originally voted against the restrictions on students, introduced the act to highlight what he views as a double standard in governance. He argues that it is contradictory for the state to claim students lack the focus to learn while legislators continue to use devices during the conduct of official business.
A Political Statement
Bergen describes the bill as a tool to "wake up" his colleagues to the implications of passing laws that restrict the public while exempting the lawmakers themselves. "They’re saying kids can’t focus enough to learn, but they can vote on billions of dollars in legislation while playing Candy Crush, it’s crazy," Bergen said. By proposing a mirror image of the student ban, Bergen intends to illustrate the perceived absurdity of government overreach.
Outlook for the Bill
Despite the strict penalties proposed, the measure is unlikely to pass in the Democrat-controlled legislature. Bergen acknowledges the low probability of the bill becoming law, stating that the primary goal is to make lawmakers realize "how stupid it would be for this to happen to them." The proposal remains a symbolic challenge to the legislative culture in Trenton and a critique of the state's educational mandates.