Increases benefit amounts and expands eligibility under New Jersey earned income tax credit program.

This bill increases benefit amounts and expands eligibility for New Jersey's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program, directly affecting low-to-moderate income residents of the state. It raises the percentage of the federal EITC that New Jersey matches, increasing the credit rate to 45% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. The legislation also allows individuals aged 18 and older who cannot claim a qualifying child for the federal EITC due to age restrictions to still qualify for the state credit, and it permits married taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse to file separately without meeting the usual joint filing requirement.