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.
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.
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.
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.
This bill (A 3281) requires all land-based firefighters in New Jersey - both paid and volunteer - who perform fire suppression, firefighting, or fire rescue to complete Coast Guard-approved marine firefighting training. It mandates three training tiers: a basic course (with existing firefighters having one year to complete it after enactment), an advanced course within two years of basic training, and biennial in-service training thereafter. The bill also establishes a separate instructor qualification course for firefighters who complete the basic/advanced training and meet in-service requirements. The legislation is pending before the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee, with no effective date set yet.
This bill (A 2286) revised New Jersey's child labor laws specifically for minors working in theatrical productions. It established age-based daily work hour limits: minors aged 6-9 could work up to 6 hours per day (with no more than 8 hours on set), those aged 9-16 up to 7 hours (max 9 hours on set), and those aged 16-18 up to 8 hours (max 10 hours on set). The bill also required medical certification, schooling during work hours (3 hours per missed school day), and employer-supervised care, while creating a new permit registration system separate from general child labor databases. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it had been approved as P.L. 2025, c. 382.
This bill revises New Jersey's process for resolving contract disputes between police and fire departments and their unions. It requires negotiations to begin 120 days before a contract expires, with at least three meetings (including one by day 90), and mandates mediation or fact-finding if an impasse occurs. If unresolved, disputes move to binding arbitration, where an arbitrator must consider nine statutory criteria when determining wage and benefit changes. The bill also establishes standards for selecting and training arbitrators on a special panel, including annual ethics training and adherence to professional conduct guidelines.
This bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to install and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on every train set used for passenger service. It mandates that each AED be kept accessible at all times during operation, marked with a clear sign, and regularly tested. NJT must also ensure at least one employee trained in CPR and AED use is present on every operating train, and notify emergency services about AED locations. The bill applies directly to NJT’s rail operations and passengers using its trains, aiming to improve emergency medical response during cardiac incidents.
This bill allows cities of the fourth class in New Jersey to close existing life guard pension plans to new employees while modifying certain benefits. It permits cities with established pension plans to stop enrolling new members, though current and retired members retain their benefits. Cities without existing plans are no longer required to create new life guard pension programs. The bill also ensures that members who don’t qualify for pensions receive their accumulated contributions plus interest. (Note: The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.396.)
This bill expands New Jersey's existing employer reporting requirements to include ride-sharing, delivery, and other technology platforms that contract with workers for pay. It requires these entities to report worker details (name, address, date of birth, Social Security number) and their own business information to the state within 20 days of hiring or rehiring, or every 15 days if reporting electronically. Failure to comply results in civil penalties of up to $25 per violation, or $500 for intentional false reporting. The law applies to all employers and contractors paying workers in New Jersey, including those using Form 1099 for compensation.
