Senator Moriarty Takes Action to Curb Cellphone Distraction in Schools and Prevent Gambling at Arcades

As the summer winds down and kids get ready to go back to school, I want to bring your attention to one of my legislative efforts. I recently introduced Senate Bill 3568. It aims to eliminate cellphone use among students in New Jersey’s K-12 public schools.

The pervasive use of phones during school hours has become a growing concern. Many students are more focused on their screens than on their studies, engaging in activities like texting, social media, and even bullying. These distractions are not just detrimental to academic achievement, but they also hinder the development of meaningful face-to-face interactions.

On another front, I’m addressing the issue of gambling, I’ve introduced Senate Bill 3541, which would prevent businesses like Dave & Buster’s from allowing betting on arcade games. That’s right, Dave and Buster’s wants to allow wagering on its arcade games – 5 or 10 bets on things like skee-ball or basketball. Although these wagers might be small, they send a harmful message that winning is only worthwhile when there’s money on the line. This is not a message we should be sending, especially in environments that are meant to be family-friendly.

Feel free to contact my office at 856-232-6700 if you have any questions!