A 2198 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances.

This New Jersey bill expands protected bereavement leave under the Family Leave Act to cover specific personal losses: death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage (including chemical pregnancy), termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, and failed fertility treatments. It directly affects employees who experience these events, granting them up to 21 days of job-protected leave for situations not covered by other leave types, or 7 days if other leave applies. The bill amends existing laws (P.L.1989, c.261 and P.L.1948, c.110) to define "bereavement" broadly, including losses related to adoption plans, gestational carriers, and fertility treatments. It ensures eligible employees can take time off without losing their jobs or benefits during these difficult circumstances.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 16, 2026

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What changed between versions

Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill → Introduced · 5 edits · Jan 13, 2026

MODERATE

The bill moved from a committee-reported version to an introduced version pending technical review by Legislative Counsel. A full Statement section was added summarizing the bill's provisions, which allow employees to take family leave and temporary disability benefits to grieve the loss of a child (death, miscarriage, stillbirth, or medically indicated termination), an unsuccessful planned adoption, or an unsuccessful fertility treatment. Two co-sponsors (Angelozzi and Brennan) were removed from the list.

SCOPE

A Statement section was added summarizing that employees may take family leave under the NJ Family Leave Act to grieve loss of a child due to death, miscarriage, stillbirth, or termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, as well as for unsuccessful planned adoptions and unsuccessful fertility treatments including IUI and assisted reproductive technology.

FISCAL

The Statement clarifies that temporary disability benefits are available for bereavement related to child loss, unsuccessful adoption, or unsuccessful fertility treatment, payable through family temporary disability leave under P.L.2008 c.17, without increasing the maximum benefits available.

REQUIREMENT

Leave limits were specified: up to 21 days for bereavement where the employee would not otherwise be eligible for any other kind of disability or family leave, and up to 7 days where the employee would otherwise be eligible for such leave or benefits.

TECHNICAL

Two co-sponsors (Assemblyman Angelozzi and Assemblywoman Brennan) were removed from the co-sponsor list.

The bill status changed from 'As reported by the Assembly Labor Committee with technical review' to 'Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.'

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 16, 2026

Committee

Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

lower

1 primary · 12 co-sponsors