SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2155

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 22, 2025

The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2155 with committee amendments.

      This amended bill prohibits public institutions of higher education from entering into sports wagering partnerships with sports wagering operators or intermediaries. 

      The amended bill specifies that a foundation institutionally related to a public institution of higher education is not prohibited from entering into a sports wagering partnership, provided that the partnership does not include direct advertising or marketing to students enrolled in the institution. Under the amended bill, direct advertising or marketing includes advertising or marketing at on-campus locations and off-campus locations associated with the institution, and any electronic advertising or marketing explicitly directed to students enrolled in the institution.

      Additionally, the amended bill provides that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to apply to any partnership between a public institution of higher education and casino licensees, sports wagering licensees, or their contracted operators which the partnership is established for academic purposes or provides experiential learning opportunities to students enrolled in the institution.

      The amended bill defines a sports wagering partnership as a partnership or a contractual agreement between a sports wagering operator or intermediary and a public institution of higher education, including an athletic department or booster club of the institution, for access to advertise in the institution’s stadiums and other facilities, in digital and broadcast sports content, and through other means. The bill prohibits a public institution of higher education from participating in a sports wagering partnership.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 2155 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 4113(1R), which was also reported by the committee on this date.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

· specify that a foundation institutionally related to a public institution of higher education is not prohibited from entering into a sports wagering partnership, provided that the partnership cannot include direct advertising or marketing to students enrolled in the institution;

· provide that the provisions of the bill are not to be construed to apply to any partnership between a public institution of higher education and casino licensees, sports wagering licensees, or their contracted operators which the partnership is established for academic purposes or provides experiential learning opportunities to students enrolled in the institution; and

· to clarify that the bill only applies to sports wagering partnerships executed between public institutions of higher education, rather than all institutions of higher education, and sports wagering operators or intermediaries.