Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4639: Prohibits training repayment agreements.

This bill prohibits employers in New Jersey from requiring employees or job applicants to sign training repayment agreements as a condition of employment. Under the law, any such agreement is automatically invalid, and employees cannot be forced to make payments if they leave their job. The bill defines these agreements as contracts that charge workers money if they depart, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, but excludes cash advances, equipment payments, sabbatical contracts, and agreements negotiated through collective bargaining. Violations of this rule are treated as failures to comply with existing employment laws, allowing employees to pursue penalties or legal action against employers who enforce these prohibited agreements.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 10, 2026

S 3856: Prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens and requires employers to use E-Verify program.

This New Jersey bill prohibits employers from hiring unauthorized aliens and mandates the use of the federal E-Verify system to confirm work eligibility. It requires all employers with 100 or more employees to use E-Verify for new hires after December 31, 2020, and smaller employers to comply after December 31, 2021. The state will conduct random audits and investigate complaints, imposing civil penalties of $100 to $1,000 per violation for non-compliance. Employers who intentionally or knowingly hire unauthorized aliens face criminal investigation by the Attorney General or county prosecutor, with work authorization status verified through federal channels rather than state officials.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Sanctuary Policies Work Authorization

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3797: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4623: Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain SPRS members.

This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments for retirement benefits of certain members of the State Police Retirement System in New Jersey. The legislation amends existing state laws to restore COLA provisions that were previously removed, ensuring that eligible retirees receive annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The bill directly affects current and former state police officers who are part of the SPRS and whose retirement benefits would otherwise remain fixed without automatic adjustments. No new funding mechanisms or changes to the retirement board structure are included in this measure.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3771: Concerns registration and operation of temporary nurse staffing agencies.

This bill requires temporary nurse staffing agencies in New Jersey to register annually with the Division of Consumer Affairs and prohibits unregistered agencies from providing services in the state. It mandates that agencies ensure all assigned nurses are properly credentialed, limits nurse billing rates to 150% of regional hourly wages, and requires agencies to maintain workers' compensation insurance and track employee health code violations. The legislation also prevents agencies from poaching nurses from client facilities and restricts contracts that block nurses from seeking permanent employment, while requiring agencies to maintain auditable salary records and submit violation reports to regulators.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4008: Requires certain school districts to partner with union apprenticeship programs for development of career exploration program.

This bill requires New Jersey school districts with high schools to partner with local labor union apprenticeship programs to create career exploration programs for 11th and 12th grade students. The partnerships must develop informational materials and a minimum 25-hour program that includes orientation sessions on career pathways and practical trade skills training. Each district must ensure at least 2% of its graduating class completes the program and submit annual reports to the state education commissioner. Funding for implementation may come from state aid, grants, workforce development funds, or private sponsorships, with the education commissioner requesting necessary budget allocations annually.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Apprenticeships Collective Bargaining Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 4710: "Clean Energy AI Incentivization Act"; directs BPU to incentivize artificial intelligence centers to bring their own self-sufficient, clean energy.

This bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities to create a program that offers incentives, such as tax credits, to artificial intelligence data centers that develop their own self-sufficient clean energy sources. It requires the board to establish responsible infrastructure standards that mandate data centers build their own energy generation facilities, maintain on-site power storage like fuel cells for grid emergencies, engage with local communities, and hire and train local workers. The bill also requires the board to publish these standards and maintain a public list of certified data centers that meet the requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Artificial Intelligence

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3792: Enhances protections under Law Against Discrimination for immigrants and persons who are not United States citizens.

This bill expands New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly include immigration status and citizenship status as protected categories, ensuring immigrants and non-citizens receive the same legal protections against discrimination as current residents. The legislation amends existing state statutes to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on these statuses, while allowing distinctions only when required by federal law or national interest. By updating legal definitions and declarations within the state's anti-discrimination framework, the bill aims to provide clearer legal grounds for individuals to seek remedies for discrimination without needing to prove citizenship.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization Driver Licenses & IDs

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 4682: Establishes certain annual certification compliance requirements for school bus contractors; requires Office of School Bus Safety to establish certification compliance pilot program.

This bill requires school bus contractors in New Jersey to submit annual certifications for each driver, including background checks and license verification, by August 15 before the school year begins. It mandates the Office of School Bus Safety to create an automated system that sends weekly electronic alerts to contractors who miss deadlines and notifies school districts if they remain noncompliant after 10 days. The bill also establishes a two-year pilot program offering incentives like priority in bidding or reduced fees to contractors who meet certification requirements on time, while allowing the commissioner to impose penalties or bar noncompliant contractors from future contracts.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Professional Licensing Public Transit

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4630: Establishes program in DOLWD to address jobs lost due to automation.

This bill establishes a new program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to help workers who lose their jobs due to automation. It creates a dedicated account within the existing Workforce Development Partnership Fund that will receive 2% of annual program revenues to support training and employment services for displaced workers. The program aims to provide grants and customized training opportunities to help affected workers gain new skills and find employment in other industries.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

All labor & employment bills