Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 2, 2026

S 3571: Provides certain volunteer and other workers with maximum compensation benefit for workers' compensation claim regardless of outside employment.

This bill (S 3571) ensures certain volunteer workers in New Jersey receive the maximum workers' compensation benefit for work-related injuries or death, regardless of their income from other jobs. It directly affects volunteer firefighters, first aid/rescue squad workers, emergency management volunteers, healthcare workers registered with the Emergency Health Care Provider Registry, and volunteers for state parks, fish and wildlife, and historic trusts. Key provisions include setting compensation equal to the maximum benefit under state law (bypassing calculations based on outside earnings) and eliminating the standard seven-day waiting period for these workers. The bill clarifies existing law following a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that confirmed volunteers should receive maximum benefits irrespective of outside employment.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4255: Requires health insurance coverage of postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy.

This bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover pelvic floor physical therapy for one year after childbirth. It applies to hospital service, medical service, health service, individual, group, and health benefits plans. The coverage must be provided at the same level as for other medical conditions, meaning no higher out-of-pocket costs or restrictions than standard medical care. This directly affects women who have given birth and are covered by these insurance plans during the postpartum period.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4247: Requires construction permit and inspections for certain work involving lead paint on home exterior.

This bill requires owners of residential homes built before 1979 to obtain a construction permit before painting or removing exterior paint if existing paint is present. Before issuing the permit, local building departments must check for lead paint via inspection or records review. If lead is suspected, owners must hire certified contractors for sanding/scraping work, and departments must conduct two unscheduled site inspections to verify compliance with safety standards. The bill limits permit fees to $50 and imposes penalties of $150 for first violations, increasing to $1,500 for repeated offenses.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4145: Provides temporary corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures.

This bill creates a temporary tax credit for New Jersey employers who build or improve facilities to provide child care for their employees' children. Employers can claim a 50% credit (up to $50,000) against corporation business tax or gross income tax for eligible property expenses, effective for three years after the bill's enactment. To qualify, employers must commit to using the property as a child care center for employees' children for 60 consecutive months and submit documentation to the state tax authority. If the property stops serving this purpose (except in cases of casualty or transfer), employers must repay the credit plus interest. The credit directly affects businesses establishing on-site or contracted child care centers for their workforce.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 2746: Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service.

This bill provides educational support professionals (non-teaching school staff) with up to four years of seniority credit for active military service they completed, including service before starting their school job. To qualify, a professional must be declared eligible for federal veterans' benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The credit counts as if the professional were employed full-time during their military service, directly affecting their seniority calculations for school district benefits and job protections. The bill aligns seniority treatment for these staff with existing provisions for teaching staff.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3666: Extends eligibility for Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to physical therapists.

This bill, S 3666, expands New Jersey's Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to include physical therapists as eligible participants. Currently, the program helps healthcare professionals like doctors, dentists, and nurse practitioners reduce student loan debt by working in underserved areas, but physical therapists were previously excluded. The bill amends eligibility requirements to explicitly add "physical therapist" to the list of qualifying professionals under the program. This change allows physical therapists working in designated underserved areas to access the same loan redemption benefits - up to $120,000 in repayment - without altering existing program rules like the service location requirements or funding limits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Primary Care

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3477: Requires health benefits plan and carriers to meet certain requirements concerning network adequacy and mental health care.

This bill (S 3477) requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey - including Medicaid, private plans, and self-funded employer plans - to ensure mental health care access for all covered individuals. It mandates that carriers maintain sufficient mental health providers in their networks, guaranteeing 100% of enrollees can access in-person care within 15 miles and 30 days, or telehealth/telemedicine care within 30 days if in-person options are unavailable. Insurers must cover telehealth mental health services on the same terms as in-person visits, with no higher deductibles/copays and reimbursement rates at least matching Medicaid rates. The law applies to all health benefits plans (excluding accident-only, disability, or workers' compensation coverage) and establishes penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

died · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3489: Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions.

S 3489, the "New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act," provides employment protections for paid first responders - including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and 9-1-1 dispatchers - diagnosed with PTSD from work-related trauma. It prohibits employers (public entities) from firing, harassing, or discriminating against employees taking leave for a qualifying PTSD diagnosis and requires reinstatement to the same position after leave if a mental health professional confirms fitness to return. A qualifying diagnosis must stem from a traumatic event during work duties or vicarious trauma from work, documented via Workers' Compensation orders or a mental health professional’s evaluation. Employees can sue for violations and seek remedies like reinstatement, back pay, or fines up to $10,000 per violation, with the law taking effect immediately.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4208: Provides right of action for individuals alleging denial of professional credential by State is result of policy or process causing disparate impact on basis of race or ethnicity.

This bill gives individuals denied professional licenses (such as for healthcare, law, or trades) by New Jersey state licensing agencies the right to file a complaint if they believe the denial resulted from a policy or process causing disproportionate negative impact based on race or ethnicity. To pursue a claim, the person must prove by a preponderance of evidence that the denial was due to one of three specific issues: a policy with disproportionate racial/ethnic impact, inconsistent application of rules, or unrelated factors considered by the agency. The state agency can defend by showing the policy is based on legitimate, race-neutral factors like education or experience that are applied fairly and directly related to the profession. Complaints must be filed with the Division of Civil Rights or New Jersey Superior Court, following existing anti-discrimination procedures.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Licensing

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

A 3380: Enters NJ in Cosmetology Licensure Compact.

New Jersey would join a multistate agreement (the Cosmetology Licensure Compact) allowing cosmetologists licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses. This directly affects licensed cosmetologists, particularly military members and their spouses who relocate frequently. The compact establishes a single multistate license valid across all participating states, reducing paperwork and enabling easier mobility while maintaining public safety standards through shared licensing records and disciplinary information. It aims to streamline regulation, address workforce shortages, and ensure consistent service quality without requiring cosmetologists to re-apply for licenses in each new state they move to.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Tags Licensing

All labor & employment bills