Labor & Employment in New Jersey

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

A 3984: Modifies use of cooperative purchasing agreements by certain public contracting units for construction services; prohibits time-and-materials contracts in certain circumstances; allows indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity public contracts in certain circumstances.

This bill (A3984) modifies how New Jersey public contracting units - including counties, municipalities, school districts, and public universities - procure construction services. It requires that cooperative purchasing agreements for construction must be competitively bid by a New Jersey contracting unit and comply with public works bidding rules, while prohibiting time-and-materials contracts for projects covered by prevailing wage laws. The bill also allows these units to use indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contracts for goods or services without final project plans, provided bids remain open and competitive. These changes aim to standardize procurement processes and ensure cost-effectiveness for public spending.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

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

A 476: Establishes EMT Workforce Development Partnership in DOH, appropriates $1.5 million.

This bill creates the EMT Workforce Development Partnership within New Jersey's Department of Health, providing free training to high school students (16+), college students, and community residents to become certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs). It requires participants to work as paid or volunteer EMTs for at least two years in their local community after certification to avoid repaying training costs. The partnership involves collaboration between the Department of Health, schools, hospitals, and certified training agencies, with $1.5 million appropriated from the state general fund to cover implementation. Participants who complete the training and pass the certification exam receive temporary EMT certification, while those who don't fulfill the service requirement must reimburse the training agency. The bill aims to expand local EMT workforce access through accessible, no-cost training pathways.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education K-12 Education Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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

A 3449: Allows gross income tax credit for certain child care staff and registered family day care providers.

This bill creates a New Jersey state income tax credit for child care staff and registered family day care providers. Eligible workers must have worked continuously for six months in their current role and directly supervise children. The credit amount varies by income level (ranging from $500 to $1,500 annually) and depends on whether they care for infants/toddlers (under 30 months) or older children, with higher credits for infant care. To qualify for the full infant care credit, workers must spend at least 50% of their time providing direct child care services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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

A 2937: Establishes Power Generation Training Center to train workers in nuclear and non-nuclear power generation.

Bill A 2937 establishes the Power Generation Training Center within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to train workers for jobs in nuclear and non-nuclear power generation. The center will develop industry-aligned curricula, offer apprenticeships, and support workforce pipelines for underserved communities and displaced workers through a public-private partnership involving labor unions, utilities, and educational institutions. Key mechanisms include a nine-member governing board (appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders), mandatory annual reporting to the Legislature, and funding from state environmental funds and grants. This bill directly affects workers seeking careers in New Jersey's energy sector and training providers collaborating with the center.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Nuclear Workforce Development

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

A 1776: Allows credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax liability for employing persons with a developmental disability.

This New Jersey bill allows businesses to claim a tax credit equal to 10% of wages paid to employees with developmental disabilities (verified by the state’s Division of Developmental Disabilities). The credit is capped at $3,000 per employee and $60,000 total per business annually for both corporation business tax and gross income tax. Businesses cannot claim this credit for the same employee if they also claim credits under existing disability employment programs. The credit applies to wages paid for any employment setting, not just specialized workshops.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits Tags People with Disabilities

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

AJR 32: Permits evidence of prompt reports of sexual assault or employment discrimination be admissible as hearsay exception.

AJR 32 is a procedural resolution proposing a rule change to New Jersey's evidence rules. It would allow evidence that a victim promptly reported sexual assault or employment discrimination to be admitted as a hearsay exception, specifically to address jury assumptions about delayed reporting. This change directly affects cases involving these crimes by enabling courts to consider timely complaint evidence without requiring the victim to testify about the report itself. The resolution, if adopted, would be implemented by the New Jersey Supreme Court under existing procedures, not by creating new law. It focuses on clarifying admissibility for factual evidence, not altering legal standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts Violent Crime Employment Discrimination

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3538: Provides super conciliation for certain emergency responder service employees, and requires continuation of contract provisions during negotiations.

This bill (S 3538) requires New Jersey employers of emergency responders - including EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, and 9-1-1 operators - to maintain all existing contract terms (like pay and benefits) during negotiations if an agreement expires. If standard mediation fails, the Public Employment Relations Commission must appoint a "super conciliator" to facilitate talks within 90 days, including potential 24-hour negotiations, and issue a public report if resolution isn’t reached. The law prevents employers from unilaterally changing working conditions without the employees’ representative agreeing. It applies to all current and future collective bargaining agreements for these workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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

A 892: Extends membership in TPAF to four years after discontinuance of service and to 20 years for those who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service upon voluntary termination.

This bill extends membership eligibility in New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). It changes the membership termination rule from two to four consecutive years of discontinued service (N.J.S.18A:66-7) and extends the window for returning to work from 10 to 20 years for specific groups: teachers laid off due to staff reductions, district consolidation, or those with 10+ years of continuous service upon voluntary termination (N.J.S.18A:66-8). Teachers who don't withdraw their contributions can maintain membership during these extended periods and return to work within the new timeframe. The change directly affects educators who leave teaching roles under these conditions, preserving their ability to rejoin the pension system without losing membership status.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

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

A 1028: Provides PFRS member in federal or State military service who is injured or killed with disability or death benefits.

This bill amends New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to extend death and disability benefits to members injured or killed while on active military duty (federal or state). It defines members on such duty - ordered by the President for federal service or the Governor for state service - as "active members" for benefit purposes, ensuring they qualify for the same death benefits as if actively serving in their department. The amendment covers both death benefits for survivors (including lump-sum payments) and disability retirement benefits for members disabled during military service. This directly affects PFRS members who serve in the military while retaining their retirement system eligibility.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics National Guard & Reserve

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

A 1754: Require business seeking to perform State contract to disclose certain labor and employment law violations.

This bill requires businesses bidding on New Jersey state contracts exceeding $50,000 to disclose all labor or employment law violations (including wage, safety, or workers' compensation breaches) from the past two years. State agencies evaluating bids must assess the seriousness of disclosed violations and may disqualify bidders whose violations pose a significant health/safety risk or show disregard for the law. It directly affects contractors seeking state work by adding a transparency requirement tied to their labor compliance record. The policy change focuses on ensuring contractors have a clean labor record before securing public contracts.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

All labor & employment bills