Labor & Employment in New Jersey

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

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

A 4917: Establishes five-year youth workforce readiness grant pilot program; appropriates $5 million.

This bill creates a five-year pilot program in New Jersey to fund workforce readiness activities for youth aged 12 to 19. The $5 million appropriation will be distributed through competitive grants to community-based organizations and partnerships that offer out-of-school time programs, such as after-school or summer activities. These programs aim to provide education and training that help young people develop the skills needed for employment while also engaging local employers in addressing workforce needs. The legislation defines eligible partners as nonprofit groups with proven expertise in career pathways and data tracking to measure student progress.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Appropriations Career & Technical Education Child Labor

passed both · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 30, 2026

A 5016: 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 understand and adopt employee ownership models, such as worker cooperatives or stock ownership plans. To support this goal, the program will offer funding for feasibility studies, provide expert consulting advice, and publish educational resources online for both employers and employees. Eligible businesses must be located in New Jersey, have at least 20 full-time employees, and maintain good standing with state agencies to receive these services. Additionally, the authority will partner with educational institutions to offer early-stage technical assistance to smaller companies that may not yet be ready for a transition.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jun 11, 2026

S 4264: Increases days of paid leave of absence for public employees who serve in a Reserve component of the United States Armed Forces.*

This bill increases the amount of paid leave available to public employees in New Jersey who serve in the United States Reserves or National Guard. Under the new provisions, these employees would receive up to 90 work days of paid leave for federal active duty, an increase from the current limit of 30 days. Any time served beyond the 90-day cap would remain unpaid but would not count against the employee's accrued time off. The change applies to full-time or permanent officers and employees across state, county, and municipal agencies.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Paid Leave National Guard & Reserve

in committee · New Jersey · Senate May 28, 2026

S 4340: Directs DOLWD to identify, and post on website, employment opportunities with minimal barriers to entry for persons returning to workforce after imprisonment.

This New Jersey bill directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to find and list jobs with few entry barriers for people returning to the workforce after imprisonment. The department must post these opportunities on its website and collect quarterly reports from reentry programs about employment partnerships and data. The law aims to help formerly incarcerated individuals find work by providing a centralized resource for available positions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly May 28, 2026

A 5142: Extends anti-SLAPP protections to complainants of sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination.

This bill expands legal protections for individuals who report sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination by extending anti-SLAPP laws to cover these specific complaints. It allows courts to pause or "stay" related lawsuits and limit discovery requests when a person makes a good-faith report about such incidents, helping to prevent retaliatory legal actions. The changes apply to private individuals and entities but exclude cases involving government officials or businesses selling goods and services. By amending existing statutes, the legislation aims to ensure that victims can report abuse without fear of being silenced through costly legal battles.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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

A 5113: Establishes "New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Support Program."

This bill creates the New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Support Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection, the program offers loans for capital purchases, employee training, and new hires aimed at improving indoor air quality. To ensure quality, any work funded by the program must be performed by organizations certified by specific industry bureaus, and businesses that receive grants may apply for a state certification based on a successful inspection. The authority sets the interest rates and terms for these loans while requiring applicants to prove their eligibility as small businesses.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Air Quality Professional Licensing Tags Small Business

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jun 23, 2026

A 5053: Permits retired municipal code officials to return to part-time employment after bona fide severance period without reenrollment in PERS.*

This bill allows retired municipal code officials in New Jersey to return to part-time work without losing their retirement benefits or needing to rejoin the pension system. Specifically, it permits these officials to resume employment as long as they wait at least 90 days after retiring, have reached the required service retirement age, and work no more than 20 hours per week. The legislation creates an exception to the usual rules that would otherwise cancel retirement allowances and require pension re-enrollment upon returning to work. This change directly affects retired code officials who wish to take on limited part-time roles while maintaining their existing pension status.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

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