Labor & Employment in New Jersey

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

A 4578: Requires proportional distribution of payment between employers for health benefit payment obligations for certain retirees.

This bill requires public employers in New Jersey to share the cost of health benefits for retirees who worked for multiple government entities, dividing the expense proportionally based on how long each employer employed the retiree. It applies to retirees who qualify for employer-paid health coverage and were employed by more than one state or local government agency or higher education institution. The law allows employers to choose whether to contribute to these costs and does not change existing collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, the bill updates rules for how certain state employees contribute to their own health coverage in retirement.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

S 3898: Imposes minimum staffing requirements and certain reporting requirements on certain long-term care facilities.

This bill requires long-term care facilities in New Jersey that specialize in Alzheimer's disease care to meet minimum staffing levels and maintain trained staff members available at all times. It mandates that facilities establish training programs for memory care therapy and annually certify compliance with enrichment activities and safety standards. The legislation also requires facilities to publicly report staffing numbers, describe Alzheimer's-specific activities, and submit annual data on antipsychotic medication use, while the state will conduct third-party reviews to identify and address excessive medication prescribing.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 4045: Clarifies that amateur sports official is independent contractor for purposes of State employment laws.

This bill clarifies that amateur sports officials, such as referees and umpires, are classified as independent contractors rather than employees under New Jersey state employment laws. The legislation directly affects individuals who are paid to enforce rules, manage games, and ensure participant safety in amateur athletic events. Key provisions exempt these officials from various state protections and obligations, including unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, wage and hour laws, and certain tax requirements. The law applies retroactively to any pending legal or administrative proceedings that might have previously classified these workers as employees.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Unemployment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SJR 111: Designates July 3 of each year as "CROWN Act Day" in NJ.

This bill designates July 3 of each year as "CROWN Act Day" in New Jersey to commemorate the state's 2019 passage of the CROWN Act, which prohibits workplace and educational discrimination based on hair texture or protective styles. The resolution requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day with awareness activities and programs. It directly affects African-American individuals who may face hair-based discrimination in professional and educational settings by promoting visibility and education about the existing protections. The bill does not create new legal requirements but serves as a commemorative measure to highlight ongoing issues of hair discrimination.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3808: Establishes ReadyReturn Program; requires Taxation to prepare initial tax filing for certain taxpayers; requires several State agencies to use tax data to facilitate identification and enrollment for certain social services programs; makes an appropriation.

This bill creates the ReadyReturn Program in New Jersey, which would require the Division of Taxation to prepare initial income tax filings for certain low-income residents who typically do not file returns because their earnings fall below the minimum threshold. The program aims to help these individuals access the Earned Income Tax Credit and other benefits by reducing barriers related to accessing forms, receiving documents, or completing paperwork. Additionally, the bill directs several state agencies to use existing tax data to streamline identification and enrollment processes for various social services programs, reducing the burden on residents who must currently complete separate applications for each assistance program. The legislation also includes an appropriation to fund these new initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations Income Tax Tax Credits

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

A 4638: Prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens and requires employers to use E-Verify program.

This bill would require all employers in New Jersey to use the federal E-Verify system to check the work authorization status of new employees, with larger companies (100+ employees) starting by December 2020 and smaller businesses following by December 2021. The legislation prohibits employers from intentionally or knowingly hiring individuals who lack legal work authorization under federal law. To enforce these rules, the state would conduct random audits and investigate complaints, imposing civil penalties of $100 to $1,000 per violation for non-compliance. The Attorney General or county prosecutors would handle investigations into intentional violations, while state officials would rely on federal verification for immigration status rather than making independent determinations.

Topics ✗ Immigration ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3793: Revises requirements for cash assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program.

This bill modifies the Work First New Jersey program by clarifying eligibility rules and defining key terms for cash assistance recipients. It ensures that individuals enrolled in higher education remain eligible for public assistance and allows the state commissioner to exempt people from work requirements due to physical or mental impairments, age, illness, injury, caretaker responsibilities, or employment issues. The legislation also updates definitions for "alternative work experience" and "community work experience," specifying that unpaid training placements should not exceed six months and should lead to full-time employment, while explicitly prohibiting assignments to for-profit private employers. Additionally, the bill refines the definition of "dependent child" to include students up to age 19 and those in special education programs up to age 21, and adjusts the list of income sources that count toward benefit calculations.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Special Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 3968: Increases certain compensation for poll workers; provides for overtime pay when polls stay open late.

This bill increases compensation for poll workers in New Jersey elections and provides overtime pay when polling places stay open late. It raises the standard fee for district board members from $300 per election to $300 plus additional payments, increasing specific responsibilities like handling signature registers from $25 to $50 per person. The legislation also mandates hourly pay at the state minimum wage for workers who remain on duty after polls close to serve voters still in line. Counties that incur these additional costs will be reimbursed by the state.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 9, 2026

A 4499: Establishes agricultural apprenticeship program in DOLWD.

This bill establishes an agricultural apprenticeship program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to train new farmers. The program has two stages: Stage 1 (for beginner farmers with less than five years of experience) requires 225 hours of on-the-job training and 25 hours of technical instruction to earn a pre-apprenticeship credential, while Stage 2 (for those who complete Stage 1) requires 2,700 hours of on-the-job training over 18 months on a host farm (operated by an established farmer with at least five years of experience), 210 hours of technical instruction, and passing a skills assessment to earn an apprenticeship credential, with participants receiving a stipend during Stage 2. Technical instruction covers practical topics like farm business planning, tractor safety, food safety, and equipment maintenance, while core skills assessed include crop planning, harvesting, and livestock handling. The program will be developed in consultation with the State Agriculture Development Committee and administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1685: Reinstates automatic COLA for retirement benefits of members of the State-administered retirement systems.

This bill (A1685) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems, including teachers' pensions. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, rather than requiring separate legislative action for each adjustment. The key mechanism is amending existing law to restore the automatic COLA provision that was previously removed, linking benefit increases directly to the Consumer Price Index. This change simplifies the process and provides predictable income growth for retirees without requiring new votes for each adjustment. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson and Speight and co-sponsored by multiple legislators.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

All labor & employment bills