Prohibits employers from inquiring about gender of job applicants under certain circumstances.

This New Jersey bill (S 2172) prohibits employers with 15+ employees from asking job applicants about their gender during the initial hiring process - before the first interview. It directly affects employers across all sectors (including government, nonprofits, and private businesses) hiring within the state, covering all applicants for paid positions. The law bans both written and verbal gender inquiries during this phase and prohibits using gender in employment decisions, with exceptions only for roles where gender is a bona fide occupational requirement (e.g., certain therapeutic or privacy-sensitive roles). Violations carry civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense, enforced by the state Labor Commissioner.