Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4242: Establishes four-day workweek pilot program for certain State employees.

This bill creates a two-year pilot program allowing certain New Jersey state employees in the executive branch to work a four-day week. The program is voluntary for participating departments, which must use staggered schedules to ensure daily coverage and negotiate terms with unions if applicable. Employees will keep their current pay and benefits, but the state must ensure the program does not increase overall personnel costs or reduce service levels. Throughout the pilot, agencies will track employee satisfaction and operational metrics, with final results reported to the Governor and Legislature.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Public Employees

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 5010: Allows corporation business tax and gross income tax credits to businesses employing released nonviolent offenders.

This bill allows businesses in New Jersey to receive tax credits if they hire adults who have been released from incarceration for nonviolent crimes. The credits apply to both corporation business taxes and gross income taxes, offering a benefit equal to 15 percent of wages paid to each eligible employee, up to a maximum of $900 per person. To qualify, the offenders must not have committed violent acts or specific serious offenses, and the tax savings are limited to 50 percent of the total tax owed for the year. Any unused portion of the credit can be carried forward for up to seven years, and the law applies to wages paid after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Corrections

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4285: Concerns discrimination based on membership in a labor organization.

This bill amends New Jersey's anti-discrimination law to explicitly include labor organizations as protected categories, ensuring that individuals cannot face discrimination based on their membership in such groups. By updating the legal definition of "labor organization," the legislation clarifies that this protection covers unions and other employee representation committees formed for collective bargaining or addressing employment conditions. The changes directly affect employers, hiring entities, and employment agencies by prohibiting them from treating job applicants or employees differently because of their union status. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "employer" to ensure these protections apply broadly across private and public sectors.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Employment Discrimination

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 7, 2026

A 4981: Regulates use of artificial intelligence-based systems for electronic monitoring regarding employment and public services.

This bill establishes rules for how employers and public service providers in New Jersey can use artificial intelligence and electronic monitoring tools to make decisions about hiring, firing, and providing services. It specifically defines these technologies, such as systems that analyze data to predict job performance or determine eligibility for public benefits, and sets requirements for their use. The legislation mandates that these systems must be regularly audited by independent experts to ensure they do not discriminate and that workers have access to information about how these tools affect their employment or services. Additionally, the bill clarifies what constitutes biometric data and outlines protections for employees regarding surveillance and data collection practices.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 4218: Establishes program in EDA to encourage employee ownership awareness and provide funding and advisory support.

This bill directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to create a program that helps businesses explore transitioning to employee ownership models, where workers hold shares or equity in their company. The initiative provides financial assistance to cover the costs of feasibility studies for eligible businesses with at least 20 full-time employees and offers ongoing advisory support to those choosing to make the transition. Additionally, the program will publish educational resources online and conduct outreach through partnerships with schools and nonprofits to raise awareness among businesses of all sizes. The legislation defines various employee ownership structures, including worker cooperatives and stock ownership plans, and establishes specific criteria for businesses and contractors to qualify for the program's services.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 18, 2026

A 5105: Limits resale of certain real property formerly owned by public body in certain circumstances; bans deed restrictions limiting use of commercial real property in certain circumstances.

This bill establishes two main rules for real property transactions involving public bodies in New Jersey. First, it mandates that private buyers of former public property must agree to pay prevailing wages for all construction and maintenance work for a period of 10 years, during which time the property cannot be resold without this agreement. Second, the bill declares invalid any deed restrictions that prevent commercial real estate from being used for the same business purpose as the previous owner. These changes directly affect public agencies selling property and private individuals or entities purchasing it, ensuring wage standards are maintained and preventing specific types of use limitations on commercial assets.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4256: Establishes five-year Tri-Share Child Care Pilot Program; appropriates $15 million.

This bill creates a five-year pilot program in New Jersey that allows employers, employees, and the state to each pay one-third of the cost for licensed child care. The initiative is designed to make high-quality care more affordable for working families while helping businesses retain staff and stabilize child care providers. To participate, eligible employees must submit an application verifying their employment and family income, with priority given to low- or moderate-income workers, essential workers, and public sector employees. The state will provide $15 million in funding, which will be distributed evenly among up to five regional hubs selected to manage the program.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4179: Removes exclusion of certain institutions of higher education under "Responsible Collective Negotiations Act."

This bill removes the exclusion of certain New Jersey institutions of higher education from the "Responsible Collective Negotiations Act," thereby bringing them under the same collective bargaining rules as other public employers. Specifically, it affects State colleges and universities, Rutgers, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and county colleges by extending the act's provisions to them. Under the new rules, these institutions would be subject to requirements regarding permissive negotiation subjects, confidentiality of communications between union representatives and employees, and the periodic sharing of contact information for non-represented workers. The legislation aims to align the treatment of higher education entities with that of other public employers in the state.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 11, 2026

S 4143: Requires State to permit foundation of association health plan and other multiple employer welfare arrangements; provides tax credit to members of plan.

This bill allows chambers of commerce, trade associations, and nonprofit business coalitions in New Jersey to create their own group health insurance plans for their member businesses. To encourage participation, the legislation provides a state tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee annually for businesses enrolled in these new plans, with a maximum annual limit of $20,000 per taxpayer. Additionally, the bill requires the state to launch a public awareness campaign funded by at least $500,000 to inform businesses about these coverage options and offers grants to help organizations cover the administrative costs of managing the plans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Insurance

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 14, 2026

S 4239: Establishes Office of Algorithmic Civil Rights in DLPS to prevent discrimination in use of algorithms.

This bill creates a new Office of Algorithmic Civil Rights within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to oversee the use of automated systems by state agencies. The office will be led by a director appointed by the Attorney General and will focus on preventing discrimination in high-risk algorithms that affect areas like housing, employment, and criminal justice. Key provisions include conducting regular audits of these systems to check for bias, requiring state agencies to appoint liaisons, and mandating the development of corrective plans if discrimination is found. Additionally, the office will provide training and resources to state entities while submitting annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on its findings and recommendations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Property Development Artificial Intelligence

All labor & employment bills