New Jersey Meta Settlement Funds:How Much, Who Decides, and What's Proposed
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Last updated October 30, 2026. New Jersey has not adopted a spending plan. The proposals below are pending or withdrawn, not law.
New Jersey helped lead the multistate case against Meta and is one of the largest recipients [1][2]. How the state will spend its share is now a live debate in Trenton.
How much is New Jersey getting?
- Settlement share: at least about $525.6 million over ten annual installments, and up to about $752 million if contingent payments are triggered [1][3].
- Cambridge Analytica payment: a one-time payment of about $20.3 million [3][4].
- Total: about $546 million guaranteed and up to about $772 million [3][4].
- Who holds it: under the settlement's New Jersey terms, the money is paid to the Attorney General, who decides where it is deposited [3].
What has been proposed?
- AR160 (introduced October 19, 2026): a non-binding Assembly resolution by Assemblyman Alex Sauickie. It urges the Governor to dedicate Meta settlement money to school districts spending below adequacy, to support staff, student services and programs tied to student mental health and achievement. It was referred to the Assembly Education Committee [5][6].
- A5438, the "Social Media Settlement Fund" bill: introduced September 10, 2026 by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz. It would have created a dedicated fund, with the Department of Human Services as lead agency, for youth mental health awareness, education on safe social media use, and anti-cyberbullying work. It was withdrawn from consideration on September 24, 2026 [7][8]. Its list of uses is still a useful guide to what lawmakers have in mind.
- The Governor: Governor Mikie Sherrill called the settlement "a major victory for New Jersey families" and said it would bring "more than $500 million to New Jersey to continue the fight" [9]. As of October 30, 2026, we have not seen a spending plan from the administration.
What to watch
- Whether a new dedicated-fund bill replaces A5438, and which agency it names as lead.
- Whether AR160 moves out of the Assembly Education Committee.
- The Governor's FY2028 budget proposal, which is expected in early 2027.
Reaching New Jersey teens and parents offline
If New Jersey directs money toward youth mental health awareness or safe-social-media education, as A5438 proposed, campaigns will need to reach teens, parents and educators across a dense, diverse state, in multiple languages:
- Elementary schools for parents of younger kids, rounding out K-12 reach.
- High schools, middle schools and colleges for students and staff.
- Pediatric and primary care offices, in a network of 7,500+ pediatric offices,, including clinic staff lounges, for parents and providers.
- Community and recreation centers, where teens and families spend after-school and weekend time.
- Daycare and childcare centers for parents of young children.
- Gas stations and convenience stores along commuter corridors.
- Multicultural community venues for in-language creative in Spanish and 15+ more languages.
See OOH & DOOH advertising in New Jersey. PlaceBased Media is the offline, place-based media partner for state programs and their agencies. Get a media plan →
Frequently asked questions
01How much will New Jersey get from the Meta settlement?
About $525.6 million guaranteed over ten installments plus about $20.3 million in a one-time Cambridge Analytica payment, roughly $546 million in total. The maximum is about $772 million if contingent payments are triggered.
02How will New Jersey spend its Meta settlement money?
That hasn't been decided. AR160, a non-binding Assembly resolution introduced October 19, 2026, urges the Governor to direct the money to below-adequacy school districts. An earlier bill to create a dedicated Social Media Settlement Fund (A5438) was withdrawn in September 2026.
03What is AR160?
An Assembly resolution introduced October 19, 2026 that urges the Governor to dedicate Meta settlement funds to school districts spending below adequacy. It's non-binding and has been referred to the Assembly Education Committee.
04Is there a New Jersey Social Media Settlement Fund?
Not currently. Bill A5438 proposed one, with the Department of Human Services as lead agency, but it was withdrawn from consideration on September 24, 2026.
Planning New Jersey youth outreach?
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Sources
- NJ AG release via Insider NJ ("at least $525 million… over $752 million"): https://www.insidernj.com/statement-by-governor-mikie-sherrill-on-historic-multistate-settlement-with-meta/
- Meta consent judgment (NJ as a trial state and co-lead): https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-0826_23-05448-ECF-572-1-Exhibit-1-MDL-Consent-Judgment-FINAL-Settlment-Agreement-Fully-Executed.pdf
- Meta consent judgment, Exhibits B, C and E: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026-08-26-META-23-05448-ECF-572-1-Exhibit-1-MDL-Consent-Judgment-FINAL-Settlment-Agreement-Fully-Executed.pdf (tracker: guaranteed $52,564,567.30 × 10; Cambridge $20,260,286.38; max $772,460,238.15)
- Shore News Network: https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/new-jersey-could-get-more-than-770-million-from-meta-where-will-the-money-go/
- AR160 text: https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/AR/160_I1.HTM
- AR160 status: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AR160
- A5438 text: https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A5500/5438_I1.HTM
- A5438 status ("9/24/2026 Withdrawn from Consideration"): https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A5438
- Governor's statement, Aug 26, 2026: https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/2026/20260826a.shtml
Other states, side by side.
Youth Social Media Settlement Funds
How states can spend Meta and TikTok settlement funds on youth mental health and digital wellness, and how to reach teens and parents offline.
Alabama
Alabama's TikTok and Meta settlements could bring the state more than $228M for youth harms. What's known about the funds, who decides, and how to reach families.
Kansas
Kansas gets $134M+ from the Meta settlement. Who controls the money, where the plan stands, and how to reach Kansas teens and parents offline.
New Mexico
New Mexico's $942M Meta judgment sets aside $33M for awareness and prevention, including media campaigns. What's known and how to reach NM families offline.
Mississippi
Mississippi's $189M Meta settlement plan sends $6.8M a year to youth mental health, plus parks and afterschool. What's in it and how to reach MS teens offline.
Tennessee
Tennessee's Meta settlement money goes to the new Children's Digital Protection Fund. What the law allows, who decides, and how to reach Tennessee families.
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