This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to create a program identifying and recruiting unemployed residents for jobs in healthcare facilities, home care, and hospice services. It mandates that the recruitment process evaluate training feasibility for specific roles, consider job proximity to applicants' homes and transportation options, and address immediate barriers to employment. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the state General Fund to fund training programs and resources, using existing DOLWD infrastructure. It directly affects unemployed individuals seeking healthcare sector employment and healthcare stakeholders collaborating with DOLWD.
This bill proposes establishing the New Jersey Life Sciences Training and Development Program within the existing Workforce Development Partnership Fund. It allocates 2% of the fund's resources (from designated workforce development revenues) to this program, which would be managed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in collaboration with the Economic Development Authority and Higher Education. The program aims to provide training and development opportunities for workers in the life sciences sector, directly supporting job readiness and career advancement in this industry. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Health Infrastructure Committee after its introduction on January 13, 2026.
This bill allocates $50 million in existing federal pandemic relief funds to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The funds will directly improve the unemployment insurance (UI) program's ability to process claims faster, addressing delays caused by the pandemic-era surge in filings. Key mechanisms include using the money for technology upgrades and hiring temporary staff to handle the backlog. The department must submit an implementation plan to the Legislature within 20 days of the bill taking effect. The bill does not change UI eligibility or benefit amounts, only the processing capacity.
This bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to provide tuition-free job training courses to workers who lost their jobs due to automation. To qualify, workers must have been in the workforce for at least two years, be unemployed or have a layoff notice from an automated workplace, and not receive other state or federal financial aid. Institutions may charge a $20 registration fee per term but cannot require tuition, and courses must have available space with a minimum number of paying students. The bill expands an existing program that previously covered job losses from factory or plant closings.
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.
S 2846 establishes a five-year pilot program in New Jersey's Department of Education to support low-income households through integrated services for both parents/caregivers and children. The program will operate in municipalities with poverty rates at least twice the statewide average, providing bundled services like early learning, adult education, job training, childcare, housing assistance, and health services - all coordinated at a single location. It requires a long-term plan for statewide expansion, partnerships with philanthropic organizations, and a workforce liaison to align services with employer needs. An interagency working group will oversee implementation and report on outcomes - including family economic stability, school readiness, and workforce success - within four years.
This bill allows partnerships and joint ventures to bid on New Jersey public works projects (like roads, bridges, and water treatment facilities) and contracts requiring prevailing wages, provided every member of the partnership is independently registered. It requires such groups to register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development before winning a contract and name a primary manager to oversee compliance. All parties in the partnership or joint venture become equally responsible for fulfilling the contract or facing penalties, including contract cancellation. The change specifically applies to heavy infrastructure projects, such as transit systems and environmental remediation, expanding bidding opportunities for collaborative business structures.
This bill establishes a permanent Office of New Americans within New Jersey's Department of Human Services. It directly serves immigrants, refugees, and their families - over two million people representing nearly a quarter of the state's population - by providing refugee resettlement services, legal assistance, health screenings, and workforce development programs. The office will act as a central hub for coordinating state services, offering technical assistance to other agencies, and ensuring programs are culturally responsive. The Director, appointed by the Human Services Commissioner, will lead these efforts with staff prioritizing lived experience in immigrant communities. The bill formalizes existing initiatives from Executive Order 74 (2019) to improve access to resources and build trust between immigrant communities and state government.
S 1067 (NJ Basic Skills Training Program bill) reallocates funding for workforce development programs rather than increasing reporting requirements, as its title suggests. The bill changes how 100% of the "Supplemental Workforce Fund" is distributed: 24% supports One Stop Career Centers, 28% funds Workforce Investment Boards, 25% (with 12.5% dedicated to apprenticeship pilots) aids employer/educator consortia, $3 million minimum goes to community colleges, and 10% covers administrative costs. It directly affects displaced/disadvantaged workers, employers (requiring them to pay regular wages during training without paperwork), and community colleges delivering basic skills training. Key mechanisms include fixed funding percentages, employer wage requirements during training, and annual reporting by the community college consortium.
S 1622 creates a tax credit program for New Jersey employers who hire military spouses who are nonresidents of the state but live in New Jersey due to their spouse's military service (such as being transferred here, legally domiciled here, or moving on a permanent change-of-station). Employers receive a credit equal to 15% of wages for military spouses working 120-400 hours per year or 25% for 400+ hours, capped at $2,400 per employee annually. The credit reduces corporation business tax or gross income tax and requires employers to apply through the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill directly supports military spouses facing employment disruptions from frequent military relocations.
