Labor & Employment in New Jersey

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

A 701: Permits minors to work until 11 p.m. between Memorial Day and October 1 of each year in certain circumstances.

This bill would allow minors aged 14-15 to work until 11 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. during summer months, specifically from Memorial Day through October 1 each year, in certain retail or food service jobs (like restaurants or supermarkets) with written parental permission. It directly affects young workers in these seasonal positions who currently have a 9 p.m. curfew during the same period. The change only extends evening hours; it does not alter total weekly work limits, prohibited occupations, or break requirements for minors. Parental permission remains required, and the bill preserves existing restrictions on work for minors under 16 during school sessions.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

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

A 440: Establishes "New Jersey Paid Prenatal Personal Leave Act."

This bill requires all New Jersey employers (including public entities and private businesses) to provide eligible pregnant employees with 20 hours of paid leave annually for prenatal health care appointments. Employees may take this leave in one-hour increments and receive regular pay for the time taken, covering activities like doctor visits, tests, and discussions with health providers related to pregnancy. Employers cannot retaliate against or discriminate against employees who use this leave, though unused leave does not carry over upon job separation. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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

A 2337: Allows gross income tax deduction for employees for amounts paid by employers for certain educational assistance programs for employees and for employee's student loans.

New Jersey's bill A2337 would allow employees to deduct up to $5,250 annually from their state gross income tax for employer-paid educational assistance (like tuition, fees, or books) and student loan payments (principal or interest). The deduction mirrors federal tax rules, requiring educational programs to cover legitimate coursework (not hobbies) and student loans for qualified higher education expenses. Employers must have a written plan for educational assistance, and employees can use both deductions in the same year up to the $5,250 limit per category. This policy directly affects NJ employees receiving these benefits, making such employer support tax-free under state law.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3603: Provides employer and employee protections pursuant to use of legalized cannabis items.

S 3603 protects New Jersey employees and job applicants from employment discrimination due to the legal use of cannabis. It prohibits employers from refusing to hire, firing, or taking adverse actions based solely on cannabis use, but allows drug testing for reasonable suspicion of impairment during work, visible intoxication, or after a work accident. Employers may use scientifically reliable testing methods (like blood, urine, or saliva) and require a physical evaluation by a certified expert to assess impairment, though pre-employment cannabis testing is banned. The bill also establishes certification standards for workplace experts who help detect impairment, but employers are not required to use these experts.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Professional Licensing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3604: Exempts certain workers and organizations from Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights.

S 3604 exempts specific workers and organizations from New Jersey's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights. The bill adds exemptions for family members, house sitters, pet sitters, dog walkers, home-based business workers (like day-care providers), home repair contractors, state employees, kinship guardians, licensed health aides, and home care agencies when using licensed workers. This means these excluded groups are no longer covered by the bill's labor standards, such as minimum wage, overtime, and anti-discrimination protections. The bill does not affect protections for other domestic workers who remain subject to the law.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 4481: Permits employee to use earned sick leave in connection with immigration-related proceeding.

This bill amends New Jersey's earned sick leave law to explicitly allow employees to use accrued sick leave for immigration-related proceedings. It directly affects workers facing immigration court hearings, consultations with legal counsel, or other immigration-related legal matters. The key provision adds "time needed by the employee in connection with an immigration-related proceeding" as a permitted use under the existing sick leave statute. This change aligns with the state's existing framework for sick leave, which already covers medical care, family care, and domestic violence situations. The bill does not alter sick leave accrual rates or documentation requirements for this new purpose.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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

A 2587: Increases minimum salary of teaching staff members in school districts and educational services commissions.

This bill increases the minimum annual salary for full-time public school teachers in New Jersey from $18,500 to $60,000 (with $61,500 for teachers holding a master's degree or higher), effective for the 2022-2023 school year and all future hires. It directly affects all public school teachers in New Jersey school districts and educational services commissions who are certified as performing acceptably. The bill mandates that school districts cannot pay below these new minimums and requires the state to cover the full difference between current salaries and the new minimums for the 2022-2023 school year, phasing down to zero funding by 2027-2028. This establishes a concrete policy change in teacher compensation standards without altering existing collective bargaining agreements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers Collective Bargaining Minimum Wage

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

ACR 43: Urges President and Congress to enact legislation amending "Civil Rights Act of 1964" to protect worker's right to unionize.

ACR 43 is a non-binding resolution passed by the New Jersey legislature urging the U.S. President and Congress to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It specifically requests that the law be updated to prohibit employer discrimination against workers for union organizing activities, such as firing or demoting employees who seek to form unions. The resolution argues this change would strengthen protections beyond current labor law by allowing workers to seek stronger remedies like punitive damages in federal court. As a concurrent resolution, it does not become law but formally expresses New Jersey's support for this policy goal.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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

A 134: Provides gross income tax deduction for certain wages of qualified health care professionals employed by health care entities.

This bill provides a 25% gross income tax deduction on hourly wages earned by qualified health care professionals working for eligible New Jersey health care entities. It directly affects licensed nurses, nurse aides, physician assistants, home health aides, and direct support professionals employed by facilities like hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, or psychiatric centers. The deduction applies to wages paid during the taxable year, reducing taxable income for these workers. The law takes effect for tax years starting after its enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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

A 3541: Concerns prevailing wage payments in residential construction projects.

This bill requires construction entities working on residential projects (like townhouses, single-family homes, or small apartment buildings) that receive financial assistance from state or local governments to pay workers the federal prevailing wage rate, as set by the Davis-Bacon Act. It applies when the entity would otherwise not be required to pay the state's prevailing wage under existing law. Financial assistance includes tax incentives, grants, loans, or other public funding. The bill ensures these projects follow federal wage standards, aligning with the Davis-Bacon Act, even when using state/local funds. The requirement takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

All labor & employment bills