Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2372: Concerns workers' compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships.

This bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to clarify coverage requirements for business owners. It states that self-employed individuals, partners in partnerships, members of limited liability companies, and S corporation shareholders who actively work for their business are considered "employees" *only if their business elects to cover them* through workers' compensation insurance. Businesses are not required to purchase coverage unless they have at least one regular employee (not just the owner). The bill also clarifies that insurers cannot be sued for failing to cover these business owners unless the insurer acted with gross negligence, and requires new application notices about coverage options.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1283: "Citizen's Fund Act"; establishes trust fund for conveyance of certain public entity assets, as permitted, for interest of public benefit plans.

This bill establishes the "Citizen's Fund," a trust fund to hold revenue-producing public assets transferred from public entities like cities, counties, or school districts. Public entities can convey assets (such as infrastructure or facilities) to the fund, which manages them to increase the funded ratio of public pension plans for employees. Key provisions require independent valuations of assets before transfer, maintain the fund as a separate entity with strict accounting rules, and mandate that all fund assets be used solely to maximize asset value and support pension benefits. The fund must operate tax-exempt under federal law and cannot benefit individuals directly.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2966: Establishes employee protections for certain employees of New Jersey City University in event of merger with Kean University.

This bill protects unionized faculty and staff at New Jersey City University (NJCU) if the university merges with Kean University. It prohibits job loss, reduced hours, or other adverse actions for three years after the merger, and requires Kean to offer vacant positions first to transferred NJCU employees. The bill also ensures all existing union contracts, salaries, benefits, and seniority are maintained for three years, with a two-year grace period to meet new job requirements. These provisions apply specifically to employees in recognized collective bargaining units who transfer due to the merger.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education Collective Bargaining

passed · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 1631: Prohibits discrimination on basis of height or weight under "Law Against Discrimination."

New Jersey's S 1631 adds height and weight to the list of protected characteristics under the state's Law Against Discrimination. It makes it illegal for employers, public accommodations (like restaurants and stores), and housing providers to discriminate based on these factors. The bill amends existing law to include "height or weight" alongside categories like race, disability, and gender identity in all relevant sections. Enforcement will continue through the Division on Civil Rights, which handles complaints about discrimination.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2098: Imposes restrictions concerning Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioners, officers, and employees regarding employment, gifts, and compensation.

S 2098 restricts personal expense reimbursements for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioners, officers, and employees. It prohibits paying for personal vehicle use (including commuting), tolls, or fares, and requires written approval for travel reimbursements. The bill also bans housing allowances, personal credit lines, and tuition reimbursements unless tied to specific job duties with a 5-year service commitment. These rules directly affect all Port Authority staff and subsidiaries, aiming to prevent personal financial benefits from public employment. The law focuses on concrete policy changes to limit personal expense coverage related to official duties.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 467: Allows political subdivisions of State to purchase unused sick leave from officer or employee under certain circumstances; prohibits authorizing special emergency appropriations for unused sick leave purchases.

This bill (S 467) modifies New Jersey law to regulate how local governments can purchase unused sick leave from public employees. It sets a $15,000 cap on supplemental retirement payments for unused sick leave, limits annual purchases to 120 hours per employee (at 60% of the leave's value based on pensionable compensation), and requires employees to retain at least 800 hours of unused sick leave. The bill applies to political subdivisions (like cities and counties) and covers most public employees, excluding certain licensed professionals (e.g., health officers, tax assessors, municipal clerks). It also clarifies that sick leave purchases are discretionary and not subject to collective bargaining.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1428: Requires civil service examination for police and correctional police officers to include questions to identify implicit racial bias.

This bill requires New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to add exam questions about implicit bias - including racial bias - to the entry-level civil service test for all law enforcement applicants. It directly affects candidates seeking jobs as municipal police officers, county police officers, correctional officers (adult and juvenile), and sheriff's deputies. The key provision mandates that the exam include questions designed to identify unconscious biases that may influence decision-making. The bill takes effect four months after enactment, with the Commission allowed to prepare in advance. It does not change hiring standards but adds a new evaluation component for all entry-level law enforcement positions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Policing Public Employees

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 285: Removes certain part-time elected public officials from eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits coverage; makes elected public officials ineligible for payments for waiving health care benefits coverage; codifies Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit.

This bill (S 285) changes health care benefit rules for New Jersey elected officials. It removes part-time elected officials (those working fewer than 35 hours weekly) from eligibility for employer-paid health care coverage and prohibits them from receiving payments for waiving such coverage. The bill also codifies a dedicated Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit to investigate public pension and benefit fraud. These changes apply to officials serving in county, municipal, or contracting unit roles covered under existing health benefit programs. The bill is currently pending in the Senate.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1352: Prohibits remote work for State employees.

This bill prohibits remote work for New Jersey State employees in career, senior executive, and unclassified service positions. It amends state law to explicitly ban remote work eligibility, overriding the existing 2022 Model Telework Pilot Program that allowed up to two remote days weekly. The Civil Service Commission can no longer establish rules permitting remote work for these employee categories. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1162: Adds Bergen County as pilot county for purposes of "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act."

S 1162 adds Bergen County to the list of pilot counties for New Jersey's "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act." This bill expands the existing program - which allows municipalities to share certain tenured local employee services (like clerks, CFOs, or assessors) across municipal boundaries - to include Bergen County. Under the program, participating municipalities may enter shared services agreements that permit dismissing tenured employees not selected for these shared roles, with protections for reappointment if the agreement ends within two years. The bill does not create new rules but extends the current pilot program to Bergen County, joining seven other counties (Atlantic, Camden, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Sussex, and Warren).

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

All labor & employment bills