S 2782 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Clarifies choice of independent contractor status for certain licensed or regulated professionals.

S 2782 clarifies that certain licensed or regulated professionals in New Jersey may be treated as independent contractors under state law if they have a written agreement designating them as such. It directly affects insurance producers, securities professionals (broker-dealers, agents, investment advisers), freight drivers at marine terminals/rail facilities meeting specific unemployment exemption criteria, and others meeting defined criteria under unemployment law. The bill prevents these professionals from being classified as employees for any purpose under state law during the term of their written agreement and eliminates the need for them to satisfy additional tests (like those under wage and hour laws) to maintain independent contractor status. It applies retroactively to all existing written agreements for these professionals.

Issues: ✗ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

General Assembly Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 4 edits

MODERATE

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reported S 2782 with amendments that swap out one category of covered independent contractors for another. The committee removed the provision covering motor vehicle operators who deliver or pick up freight from marine terminals or rail facilities, and replaced it with a new category for individuals who perform motor club services under a written agreement with a motor club or its third-party contractor. The R.S.43:21-19(i)(7)(J) exemption provision was retained but relettered.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed by removing marine terminal and rail facility freight operators while expanding to include motor club service providers. The overall structure remains the same: confirming that certain regulated or licensed professionals operating under written independent contractor agreements are not treated as employees under state law.

SCOPE

Removed the category covering individuals who operate motor vehicles to deliver or pick up freight from a marine terminal or rail facility and meet the exemption criteria under R.S.43:21-19(i)(7)(X). These workers are no longer covered by the bill's independent contractor protections.

Added a new category covering individuals who perform motor club services pursuant to a written agreement with a motor club or a third party contracting with a motor club. This expands the bill to protect motor club service providers as independent contractors.

TECHNICAL

The provision referencing R.S.43:21-19(i)(7)(J) exemption criteria was relettered from subsection (d) to subsection (d)1, reflecting the insertion of the new motor club category above it.

The explanatory STATEMENT section at the end of the bill was removed in the reprint version. This is a presentation change and does not alter the operative text.

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 18, 2026

Committee

Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee

lower

Jun 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by the Senate (34-2)

upper

Jun 1, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee

upper

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors