S 238 expands New Jersey's tax credit for child and dependent care expenses, directly benefiting residents with childcare costs who qualify for the federal credit. It raises the income limit from $60,000 to $150,000 for eligibility and increases the maximum credit amount to $1,000 for one child (up from $500) and $2,000 for multiple children (up from $1,000). The bill also adjusts income brackets, extending the 50% credit rate to taxpayers earning under $50,000 (previously $20,000) and expanding all other brackets. These changes apply to New Jersey gross income tax returns for taxable years beginning after enactment.
S 358 increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 by mandating life imprisonment without parole for all offenses, including both sexual exploitation and forced labor. Currently, trafficking children for sex carries a life sentence without parole, but this bill expands that requirement to cover all forms of child trafficking. The bill also requires a $25,000 fine for offenders, with funds directed to a survivor assistance fund, and mandates restitution to victims based on labor value. This directly affects traffickers who exploit children, regardless of whether the trafficking involves sexual activity or labor.
This bill (S 1188) amends New Jersey's "Extended Employment Act" to modernize support for people with significant disabilities. It revises key definitions - such as replacing "sheltered workshop" with "extended employment" to describe nonprofit-run programs providing work opportunities for individuals with disabilities who cannot compete in the open labor market. The bill updates funding mechanisms to tie annual increases to the CPI-W index (not fixed amounts) and requires contracted providers to submit detailed annual reports on participant outcomes. It directly affects nonprofit service providers administering these programs and people with significant disabilities who qualify for extended employment services. The changes aim to better align program structure with current vocational rehabilitation standards.
This bill eliminates the requirement for unvaccinated New Jersey state employees to undergo regular (weekly) COVID-19 testing. It directly affects state employees who are unvaccinated against COVID-19, removing a mandatory testing policy previously enforced by state employers. The bill does not prevent employees from voluntarily getting tested or require testing for symptomatic employees regardless of vaccination status. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill (S 1692) would impose a 10-year moratorium on new or amended state and local rules/regulations applying to manufacturing facilities in New Jersey. It directly affects existing manufacturing facilities operating when the bill passes, as well as facilities starting operations after the bill becomes law. The moratorium applies unless federal law requires it, but facilities can voluntarily waive the exemption for specific rules on a case-by-case basis. The Department of Labor will establish eligibility criteria and application procedures for the exemption, though the bill is still pending and not yet law.
New Jersey's S 1389 expands the state's child and dependent care tax credit by raising income limits and increasing credit percentages. It raises the income cap for joint filers, heads of household, and surviving spouses from $150,000 to $250,000, while keeping the $150,000 limit for other filing statuses. The bill also increases the credit percentage across all income brackets by 10 points - for example, taxpayers earning under $30,000 will now receive 60% of the federal credit instead of 50%. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment and extend eligibility to married individuals filing separately who meet federal credit requirements except for joint filing.
This bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act," creating a Migrant and Refugee Resource Coordination Program within the Department of Human Services. The program connects migrants (individuals relocating to NJ from other countries) and refugees (those granted federal refugee status) with public assistance resources, including housing, healthcare, education, job training, and legal services. The Department must collaborate with local governments and community organizations, implement multilingual outreach, and submit annual reports detailing program effectiveness and recommendations. The law takes immediate effect and focuses on facilitating access to existing state services, not creating new benefits.
This bill reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirement benefits in New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees, including state employees and teachers, by requiring their benefits to increase each year to match inflation without needing separate legislative action. The key mechanism establishes a permanent automatic adjustment process tied to inflation data, eliminating the need for annual budget amendments. This change ensures retirees' purchasing power remains aligned with rising living costs over time.
This bill requires all New Jersey public schools and child care centers to test drinking water for lead at every accessible outlet (like sinks and fountains) every two years. If lead levels exceed 5 parts per billion, schools must install NSF/ANSI-certified filters to reduce lead and notify parents, staff, and the state within 24 hours. The law mandates specific testing procedures, including 8-48 hour water stagnation periods and public posting of results. It directly affects over 1,500 school facilities statewide by establishing a regular testing and remediation process for drinking water safety.
This bill creates a $500 tax credit against New Jersey's gross income tax for eligible volunteer firefighters. To qualify, a taxpayer must have been an active member of a volunteer fire company or part-paid fire department for three consecutive years (including the current tax year and the two prior years). The credit applies to New Jersey gross income tax liability but cannot reduce the tax below zero. It directly benefits volunteer firefighters who meet the service requirements, providing a financial incentive for their service.
