Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2614: Requires NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA to consider minorities and women when hiring or awarding contracts.

This bill requires New Jersey's major transportation and economic authorities - including the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA - to actively consider and prioritize hiring minority and women employees, as well as awarding contracts to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Authorities must publish quarterly reports online detailing employee demographics (by gender, race, and ethnicity) and contractor diversity, including average salaries and contract values. The law defines "minority" broadly to include Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, and specifies that businesses owned by these groups must meet a 51% ownership threshold to qualify. If passed, these measures would directly affect hiring and contracting decisions across these agencies' operations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2099: Establishes EMS part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency medical services employees.

This bill creates a new retirement plan within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) specifically for emergency medical services (EMS) workers, including paramedics, EMTs, emergency medical supervisors, and other certified personnel who provide life support services. It requires these employees to join the "EMS Part" of PERS, pay a 10% salary contribution, and receive enhanced retirement benefits: 50% of their final salary for 20+ years of service, or a special option of 65% of final salary plus additional payments for 25+ years of service. Existing retirement credits will transfer to the new plan without extra cost to employees, and the bill also provides death benefits to beneficiaries equal to half the employee's final salary. The bill directly affects all eligible EMS employees in New Jersey state, county, and municipal roles.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2154: Appoints members to State Health Benefits Commission and School Employees' Health Benefits Commission.

This bill increases membership on two New Jersey health benefits commissions. It expands the State Health Benefits Commission from 5 to 9 members and the School Employees' Health Benefits Commission from 9 to 13 members. The bill specifies new appointment procedures, including adding three local employee representatives for the State Commission and increasing union and association representation for the School Commission. It also creates a new State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee with 12 members to manage health plan details like medical and dental benefits. The changes are procedural, affecting only the composition and structure of these commissions, not the health benefits programs themselves.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1641: Requires carbon monoxide detectors in school buildings.

This bill requires all public and private school buildings in New Jersey to install carbon monoxide detectors meeting Underwriters Laboratories standard 2034, unless a hazard assessment determines no risk exists. The Commissioner of Community Affairs must create rules for detector placement and hazard evaluations, and school construction permits must include detector provisions. Local authorities may charge fees to cover inspection costs for compliance, but fees cannot exceed actual inspection expenses. The law amends existing fire safety and construction code regulations to implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2306: Removes exclusion of affectional or sexual orientation and gender identity or expression from affirmative action programs under public works contracts.

This bill removes an exclusion that previously allowed public works contractors in New Jersey to exclude "affectional or sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression" from their affirmative action programs. It directly affects contractors and subcontractors bidding on state, county, or municipal public works projects by requiring them to include these categories in their equal opportunity plans. The key mechanism amends existing law to eliminate the exception, mandating that contractors take affirmative action to prevent discrimination and promote hiring in these protected categories. Small businesses with fewer than five employees remain exempt from submitting affirmative action programs. The change ensures these identities are covered under the same equal opportunity standards as race, gender, and other protected classes.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1168: Reinstates automatic COLAs for retirement benefits of certain PFRS members.

This bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of members in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It directly affects current and future retirees who are members of this system, restoring annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The key provision amends existing law to allow the retirement system's board of trustees to reinstate these automatic COLAs without requiring additional contributions from members, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't harm the fund's long-term stability. The bill does not create new benefits but returns a previously reduced feature of the retirement system.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SJR 81: Permits evidence of prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination be admissible as hearsay exception.

SJR 81, sponsored by Senator Kristin M. Corrado, proposes amending New Jersey's Rules of Evidence to allow prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination to be admitted in court as an exception to the hearsay rule. This means victims' timely reports (made soon after the incident) could be used as evidence without requiring the reporter to testify, helping courts assess credibility and investigative context. The change specifically targets cases involving sexual assault or workplace discrimination, where such reports are currently often excluded as hearsay. The resolution must be approved by the Governor and adopted by the New Jersey Supreme Court to take effect.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Violent Crime Employment Discrimination

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2529: Permits certain substitute teachers to enroll in TPAF.

This bill (A2529) amends New Jersey law to allow certain substitute teachers to enroll in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). Currently, TPAF eligibility typically applies to regular classroom teachers, but this bill expands it to include specific substitute educators who meet defined criteria. The key provision modifies eligibility rules under N.J.S.18A:66-2 to permit these substitute teachers to contribute to and eventually receive retirement benefits from the fund. It directly affects substitute teachers who qualify under the new enrollment rules, providing them access to a retirement savings system previously unavailable to them. The change focuses on concrete eligibility expansion without altering existing benefit calculations or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1831: Makes various changes to SHBP plan offerings and governance.

This bill restructures the governance of New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), which provides health coverage to state employees. It creates a new 11-member State Health Benefits Commission (replacing the previous structure) and a separate 12-member Plan Design Committee. The Commission includes the Treasurer, agency heads, and members appointed by labor unions representing state employees, while the Plan Design Committee focuses specifically on designing health plan benefits like medical, dental, and prescription coverage. These changes affect all state employees enrolled in the SHBP by altering who oversees their health plan offerings and administration. The bill does not change the actual benefits provided, only the decision-making bodies managing the program.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1198: Requires reservation of portion of funding under State rental assistance program for households ineligible for federal Section 8 program due to leave resulting from pregnancy or newborn care needs.

This bill (A 1198) requires New Jersey's State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP) to reserve a portion of its funds specifically for households that cannot access federal Section 8 housing assistance due to time taken off work for pregnancy or newborn care (within six months). It directly affects low-income pregnant individuals or new parents who currently face barriers to federal Section 8 participation because their pregnancy or childcare responsibilities don't qualify for federal exemptions. The key mechanism reserves existing SRAP funds - without creating new money - for this group, supplementing the state program already designed for those ineligible for federal help. This creates a targeted state-level housing support option for a specific gap in federal policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Renters

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