A 5792 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential.

This bill requires New Jersey employers of first responders (law enforcement officers and paid firefighters) to cover workers' compensation for up to 12 hours of confidential mental health counseling after a "critical incident," such as witnessing violence, serious injury, or trauma during duty. Additional up to 24 hours of counseling may be covered if a mental health professional deems it necessary for the responder's well-being. The law also mandates confidentiality for mental health communications between first responders and peer support teams or resiliency program officers, with limited exceptions if a responder poses a risk to themselves or others. All counseling must be completed within one year of the first session and cannot require use of the responder's accrued paid leave.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
General Assembly Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Aug 2025
Introduced Jun 16, 2025 Signed Aug 21, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 30, 2025 · General Assembly Jun 30, 2025

How they voted

390
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Jun 30, 2025
D Democratic25
25 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican15
14 Yea 1
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Aug 21, 2025
Signed into law
Approved P.L.2025, c.134.
executive
Jun 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (39-0)
upper
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (80-0-0)
lower
Jun 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
lower
Jun 16, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee
lower
6 primary · 15 co-sponsors

Sponsors