Steinhardt Introduces Bill Updating Identify Theft Law to Include Impersonation Using AI & Deepfake Technology
Senator Doug Steinhardt has introduced legislation that updates New Jersey’s identify theft law to include fraudulent impersonation using artificial intelligence (AI) or deepfake technology.
Sen. Doug Steinhardt has introduced legislation that updates New Jersey’s identify theft law to include fraudulent impersonation using artificial intelligence (AI) or deepfake technology. (©iStock)
“As artificial intelligence tools have grown increasingly more powerful and available to the general public, they’ve opened the door for scammers to commit shockingly disturbing new crimes involving identity theft,” said Steinhardt (R-23). “With very little technical expertise, scammers can download pictures or video of a person from online sources and run it through AI tools to imitate their voice or generate realistic video of the person saying or doing things that never happened. It’s leading to new scams that put both the imitated victim and other parties, including relatives, at risk.”
Stanfield Bill Revising Farmland Appraisal Process Advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Jean Stanfield that would help preserve more farmland in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee.
Sen. Jean Stanfield’s bill that would help preserve more farmland in New Jersey was approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee. (Pixabay)
“New Jersey has a rich agricultural heritage that extends multiple centuries and must be protected for future generations,” said Stanfield (R-08). “Preserving farmland limits the outward expansion of densely populated cities and the fragmentation of natural habitats in rural communities while ensuring residents have access to locally grown farm products. This legislation revises the appraisal process for the sale of development easements on farms to incentivize more landowners to participate in the Farmland Preservation Program.”
Bucco: If Democrats’ Green Energy Plan Is Such a Great Idea, Why Delay a Vote Until After the Election?
Senator Anthony M. Bucco asked why Democrats would delay a vote on legislation requiring New Jersey to transition to 100% clean energy by 2035 until after November’s legislative elections if it’s such a great idea.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco asked why Democrats would delay a vote on legislation requiring New Jersey to transition to 100% clean energy by 2035 until after November’s legislative elections if it’s such a great idea. (©iStock)
“Forcing New Jerseyans to pay higher energy bills for whale-killing wind turbines and asking them to rip out their natural gas furnaces and stoves at great cost is bad public policy,” said Bucco (R-25). “Democrats are afraid that if voters realize they’re going to pay significantly more for less reliable power that requires expensive retrofits of homes, businesses, and public buildings, they’ll be dumped like a dead whale in Raritan Bay. The only reason they’re pushing off consideration of their clean energy bill until after Election Day is to keep voters in the dark until it’s too late.”
Bramnick Drafting “Fair Fight” Legislation
Senator Jon Bramnick is drafting “fair fight” legislation to deter and more forcefully punish gang assaults by multiple people against an individual.
Sen. Jon Bramnick is drafting ‘fair fight’ legislation to deter and more forcefully punish gang assaults by multiple people against an individual. (Pixabay)
“We’ve seen an increasing number of group assaults where individuals have struggled to defend themselves against multiple attackers,” said Bramnick (R-21). “The violent cowards who are responsible for these gang assaults often walk away with a simple assault charge because the victim was lucky enough to avoid serious injury. Those weak charges ignore the fact that a victim is more likely to face serious injury when it’s not a fair fight and they’re being attacked from multiple directions. Our new legislation would impose a more serious third-degree aggravated assault charge any time two or more persons gang up to attack an individual.”
Senate Republicans Propose FY 2024 Budget Plan with $6 Billion of New Tax Relief, More Debt Reduction, Spending Moderation & Greater Transparency
The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee proposed more than $6 billion of new tax relief, $1 billion for debt reduction, and greater transparency and fairness in State spending in a detailed plan (click here for PDF) to amend Governor Murphy’s proposed FY 2024 State Budget. The proposal would grow the budget surplus to nearly $6.5 billion.
Senate Republicans have proposed a comprehensive budget plan with $6 billion of new tax relief, including $4.3 billion of “Give It Back” property tax relief for towns and counties. (www.GiveItBack.us)
“With a sizable budget surplus and billions more set aside in debt and pandemic relief funds, the State has unprecedented resources that the Murphy administration has failed to use effectively to meet New Jersey’s needs,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-13), the Republican Budget Officer. “We have proposed a comprehensive and responsible budget plan that would increase property tax relief by $4.3 billion, prevent toll hikes and payroll tax increases, repay more State debt, impose meaningful spending restraints, and restore transparency and fairness to government spending.”
Durr: Attributing the Deaths of Whales Disoriented by Wind Survey Work to Ship Strikes Is Disingenuous
Senator Ed Durr issued the following response after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determined that the deaths of two humpback whales were caused by vessel strikes off the coast of New York and New Jersey.
Sen. Ed Durr issued the following response after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determined that the deaths of two humpback whales were caused by vessel strikes off the coast of New York and New Jersey. (NJ.com)
“Attributing recent whale deaths solely to ship strikes neglects obvious underlying factors that are likely causing marine mammals to swim into the paths of boats in the first place,” said Durr (R-03). “Whales and other marine mammals use sound, sonar, and sensitive hearing to navigate along our coast, abilities that are almost certainly impacted by noisy survey work related to offshore wind development. They’re likely being disoriented by the noise of the survey work and losing their ability to navigate safely. It’s like blinding another driver with your high beams at night and blaming the bridge abutment they crash into for their injuries. It’s really disingenuous.”
Bucco Bill to Bolster Employment Opportunities in the Healthcare Industry Advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco that would bolster employment in New Jersey’s healthcare industry was approved by the Senate Labor Committee.
Sen. Anthony M. Bucco’s bill that would bolster employment in New Jersey’s healthcare industry was approved by the Senate Labor Committee. (Pixabay)
“The loss of valuable heroes within the healthcare sector is a disturbing trend that is projected to worsen if we are unable to bolster employment opportunities in the industry. Healthcare professionals have endured a disproportionate amount of mental and physical stress due to staffing shortages and industry challenges stemming from the pandemic,” said Bucco (R-25). “A robust healthcare industry plays a vital role in safeguarding the health and well-being of all New Jerseyans. This legislation establishes a program to identify, recruit, and train unemployed individuals to bolster employment in the healthcare industry.”
Testa & Durr: Despite Democrat Fearmongering, Nobody Is Looking to Ban Books
Senator Michael Testa and Senator Ed Durr said that despite fearmongering from Governor Phil Murphy and Trenton Democrats, nobody is looking to ban books of any kind.
Sen. Michael Testa and Sen. Ed Durr said that despite fearmongering from Gov. Phil Murphy and Trenton Democrats, nobody is looking to ban books of any kind. (Wikimedia Commons)
“It’s a total misrepresentation for Democrats to say that parents are looking to ‘ban books’ simply for expressing their concerns about the unrestricted availability of content that’s not age-appropriate in their school libraries,'” said Durr (R-3). “Nobody is looking to stop adults from buying these books or suggesting that parents shouldn’t be able to provide them to their children at their discretion. Any suggestion by Governor Murphy or Trenton Democrats that children’s access to books in school libraries has to be all or nothing is just fearmongering of the worst kind. We believe there are workable solutions that could address the concerns of parents and ensure continued access to books with sexual content with reasonable restrictions.”
Testa Renews Call for Criminal Justice Reforms to Help Towns Maintain Law & Order
Senator Michael Testa is calling on the New Jersey Legislature to approve criminal justice reform bills that would help towns to reverse a trend of lawlessness by drunk and rowdy teenagers. His comments followed a weekend of chaos in several Shore communities, including Ocean City, which adopted strict new beach and boardwalk restrictions to try to maintain law and order.
Sen. Michael Testa is calling on the New Jersey Legislature to approve criminal justice reform bills that would help towns to reverse a trend of lawlessness by drunk and rowdy teenagers. (Flickr)
“The lawlessness that I saw play out in our Shore towns over Memorial Day weekend was shocking. Large crowds and pop-up parties continue to cause damage to local communities and it will only get worse as summer approaches,” said Testa (R-1). “Underage drinking, vandalism, and drug use were all on display with very little consequences to those in attendance. Residents and tourists fear for their safety and business owners will suffer the consequences unless the Legislature and the Governor step up and address this issue head on.”
Bucco Bill Giving Municipalities More Options to Purchase Firefighting Equipment Advances
Legislation sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco that enables municipalities to extend the time to permanently finance the purchase of new firefighting apparatus was approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Sen. Anthony Bucco’s bill that enables municipalities to extend the time to permanently finance the purchase of new firefighting apparatus was approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee. (SenateNJ.com)
“Municipalities are facing greater financial pressures amid the challenges brought on by multiple years of high inflation,” said Bucco (R-25). “Rising costs coupled with financial constraints have made it difficult for municipalities to finance the purchase of expensive vehicles and equipment. This legislation extends the period of usefulness for firefighting vehicles and equipment from ten to twenty years so municipalities can extend the time those capital items can be permanently financed.”
