A 1516 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Exempts poll workers wages from affecting unemployment compensation.

This bill exempts wages earned by poll workers during election cycles from being counted when calculating an individual's unemployment benefits. It directly affects poll workers who may otherwise have their unemployment compensation reduced due to income earned from temporary election work. The key provision amends New Jersey's unemployment law to exclude poll workers' wages from the "annual payroll" calculation used to determine benefit eligibility. This change ensures poll workers can receive full unemployment benefits without their election-season earnings affecting their claim. The bill focuses solely on adjusting the calculation method for this specific group of workers.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Jul 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill adds a $1,000 per calendar year cap on poll worker and temporary board worker compensation that qualifies for exemption from affecting unemployment benefits. Previously, any amount of election-related pay was exempt; now only compensation up to $1,000 per year is covered. A technical footnote was also added clarifying when the monetary alternative for computing average weekly wage applies in the unemployment context.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a $1,000 per calendar year cap on compensation paid by county boards of elections to poll workers and temporary board workers. Only compensation at or below this threshold is exempt from affecting an individual's unemployment benefits. Compensation above $1,000 would no longer be excluded from the definition of employment for unemployment purposes.

TECHNICAL

Added a footnote clarifying that the monetary alternative for computing average weekly wage (under R.S.43:21-4) only applies when the individual did not have at least 20 base weeks in the base year. This narrows the circumstances under which an alternative wage calculation method is used.

SCOPE

Additional co-sponsors were added, including Assemblywoman McCoy, Senator Corrado, Senator Beach, and several others, indicating broader legislative support for the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (40-0)

upper

Jun 11, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jun 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed by the Assembly (76-3-0)

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Committee

Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

lower

4 primary · 16 co-sponsors