Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3625: Establishes alternate calculation of retirement benefits for members of TPAF and PERS.

This bill (S 3625) creates an alternative method for calculating retirement benefits for members of New Jersey's Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). It allows members to request a recalculation using their highest average annual pay from any three years of service (instead of the standard formula), with specific 60-day and 30-day deadlines for submitting requests and approving the new calculation. The change applies only to future benefit payments - not retroactive increases - and gives retirees who began receiving benefits after January 1, 2025, one year after the bill’s effective date to request this recalculation. The Division of Pensions and Benefits handles the notice process and final approval.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3590: Increases accidental death benefit for surviving spouse or surviving children of certain PERS members and retirants; provides accidental death benefit to beneficiary of certain PERS and PFRS members and retirants; redefines child.

This bill (S 3590) increases accidental death benefits for surviving spouses and children of Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) members, specifically targeting law enforcement officers, correction officers, firefighters, and certain emergency responders. It expands eligibility by redefining "child" to include those under 18, enrolled in secondary or higher education (under 24), or disabled with long-term impairments. The bill also adds accidental death benefits for designated beneficiaries of these members if death occurred during duty without willful misconduct. It amends existing retirement laws to clarify these provisions and ensure benefits align with current needs of public safety workers' families.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 12, 2026

A 4058: Establishes Emergency Medical Services Provider Safety Grant Program in DOH; appropriates $10 million.

This bill establishes a one-time grant program to help New Jersey emergency medical services (EMS) providers afford safety equipment. It appropriates $10 million from federal coronavirus relief funds to cover costs for personal protective equipment (like masks and gloves), protective clothing, cleaning supplies, and other virus-related safety gear. EMS providers must apply competitively through an online process, with funding prioritized based on need (e.g., service calls, personnel numbers, and pandemic impact). The program expires once the $10 million is spent, and the state health commissioner must report annually on grants awarded and equipment purchased.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

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

A 587: Establishes "Succeed in New Jersey" student loan reimbursement program for certain New Jersey residents employed in designated fields.

This bill (A 587) proposes the "Succeed in New Jersey" program, which would provide student loan reimbursement to eligible New Jersey residents working in designated fields. To qualify, applicants must be NJ residents for at least 3 months, hold a U.S. undergraduate degree from 2014 onward, have an income under 500% of federal poverty guidelines, and work full-time in one of five fields identified by the Department of Labor as having workforce needs or providing public benefit. Reimbursement would cover up to $6,000 annually (based on income tier) for a maximum of three years, with total state spending capped at $10 million yearly. The program requires participants to maintain NJ residency, stay current on loans, and verify employment annually.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

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

A 1966: Increases accidental death benefit for certain members of PERS.

This bill increases accidental death benefits for firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, hazardous materials responders, and fire instructors in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). It raises the surviving spouse's pension from 50% to 70% of the member's final salary-based compensation (or $50,000, whichever is greater), and expands child benefits to 70% if no spouse survives. The bill also adds retroactive health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children through employer-sponsored plans, and requires lump-sum payments for the difference between old and new benefits dating back to January 1, 2021. These changes align PERS accidental death benefits with those provided under the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance

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

A 1073: Establishes Emergency Services part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency services employees.

This bill creates a new "Emergency Services Part" within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to provide enhanced retirement and death benefits for specific emergency workers. It directly affects emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, fire inspectors, and other certified emergency services employees who are currently in PERS or will be hired after the bill's effective date. Key provisions require current PERS members in these roles to be enrolled in the new part within 120 days (unless they waive it), and new hires must be enrolled as a condition of employment. The bill ensures service credit earned in standard PERS for these roles will count toward benefits in the new part, aligning with existing retirement structure while offering improved benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

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

A 2623: Requires executive county superintendent to distribute funds to each public school located in county for purchase of tourniquets and requires training on tourniquet use; appropriates up to $500,000.

This bill (A 2623) requires New Jersey executive county superintendents to distribute up to $500,000 in state funds to public school districts for purchasing tourniquets. It mandates that tourniquets be placed in unlocked, clearly marked locations accessible during school hours and school-sponsored events. The bill also requires annual training for school employees (including nurses, safety officers, and teachers) on tourniquet use and bleeding control, which schools may provide through partnerships with local emergency services. Schools must submit annual compliance statements to county superintendents.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics School Safety

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1972: Revises law concerning family leave to extend protection by reducing, over time, employee threshold from 30 employees to five employees in definition of employer.

This New Jersey bill (A 1972) would gradually expand family leave protections by lowering the employee threshold for businesses to be covered under the law. Currently, businesses with 30+ employees must comply; the bill phases this down to 20 employees (after 365 days), then 10 employees (after 730 days), and finally to 5 or more employees (after 1,095 days). It directly affects small businesses (5-30 employees) by requiring them to provide job-protected family leave for eligible employees. The bill was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn because it was superseded by another law (P.L.2025, c.279) that already implemented similar changes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2356: Provides employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder under certain conditions.

This bill, now law as P.L.2025, c.272, provides employment protections for New Jersey paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 9-1-1 dispatchers) diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against employees who take leave for qualifying PTSD treatment, requiring reinstatement to their previous position after documented recovery. Employers violating these protections face civil fines ($5,000 for first violation, $10,000 for subsequent), court-ordered reinstatement, lost wages, and attorney fees. The law applies only when PTSD arises from on-the-job trauma or vicarious trauma experienced during official duties.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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

A 3544: Prohibits toll-free passage for SJTA employees, officers, and members except while commuting or carrying out official duties.

This bill modifies New Jersey's existing toll regulations to prohibit free toll passage for South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) employees, officers, and members. It specifically restricts toll-free access to vehicles operated only during commuting to/from work or while performing official duties for the SJTA. Collective bargaining agreements covering these employees will not override this requirement. The change applies to all SJTA personnel covered under current or future labor agreements.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

All labor & employment bills