Labor & Employment in New Jersey

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

AR 62: Urges President and Congress to enact legislation granting amnesty and providing path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

AR 62 is a New Jersey Assembly Resolution (not a bill) urging the U.S. President and Congress to enact legislation granting amnesty and creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. It specifically references the need for 11 million undocumented immigrants to gain legal status, citing economic benefits and historical precedent from the 1986 Immigration Reform Act. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action, emphasizing that current policies prevent immigrants from fully participating economically and socially. It was introduced in the Assembly on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

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

A 2655: Supports activities of New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc.

This bill allocates $1.5 million annually from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to support the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP) or its successor. NJMEP is a nonprofit organization that helps New Jersey manufacturers improve competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency through customized training and technical assistance. The funding is designated as a permanent, dedicated source within the broader workforce development fund, separate from other allocations for worker training programs. This provision ensures consistent financial backing for NJMEP's services to manufacturers across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3700: Requires employer of volunteer first responder to provide employee with one additional paid sick day per benefit year for healthcare diagnostic testing.

This bill requires employers with at least 25 employees to provide one additional paid sick day per benefit year to employees who serve as volunteer first responders (such as firefighters, EMTs, or emergency squad members). The extra day must be used specifically for healthcare diagnostic testing recommended by a provider to prevent or diagnose conditions related to the volunteer’s duties. Employers must provide this benefit after the employee completes their first calendar year of service. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will establish rules to implement the policy, aiming to support volunteer recruitment and retention by reducing conflicts between paid work and emergency service responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workforce Development Tags Public Safety

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

A 440: Establishes "New Jersey Paid Prenatal Personal Leave Act."

This bill requires all New Jersey employers (including public entities and private businesses) to provide eligible pregnant employees with 20 hours of paid leave annually for prenatal health care appointments. Employees may take this leave in one-hour increments and receive regular pay for the time taken, covering activities like doctor visits, tests, and discussions with health providers related to pregnancy. Employers cannot retaliate against or discriminate against employees who use this leave, though unused leave does not carry over upon job separation. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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

A 2337: Allows gross income tax deduction for employees for amounts paid by employers for certain educational assistance programs for employees and for employee's student loans.

New Jersey's bill A2337 would allow employees to deduct up to $5,250 annually from their state gross income tax for employer-paid educational assistance (like tuition, fees, or books) and student loan payments (principal or interest). The deduction mirrors federal tax rules, requiring educational programs to cover legitimate coursework (not hobbies) and student loans for qualified higher education expenses. Employers must have a written plan for educational assistance, and employees can use both deductions in the same year up to the $5,250 limit per category. This policy directly affects NJ employees receiving these benefits, making such employer support tax-free under state law.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 19, 2026

S 3603: Provides employer and employee protections pursuant to use of legalized cannabis items.

S 3603 protects New Jersey employees and job applicants from employment discrimination due to the legal use of cannabis. It prohibits employers from refusing to hire, firing, or taking adverse actions based solely on cannabis use, but allows drug testing for reasonable suspicion of impairment during work, visible intoxication, or after a work accident. Employers may use scientifically reliable testing methods (like blood, urine, or saliva) and require a physical evaluation by a certified expert to assess impairment, though pre-employment cannabis testing is banned. The bill also establishes certification standards for workplace experts who help detect impairment, but employers are not required to use these experts.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Professional Licensing

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 4481: Permits employee to use earned sick leave in connection with immigration-related proceeding.

This bill amends New Jersey's earned sick leave law to explicitly allow employees to use accrued sick leave for immigration-related proceedings. It directly affects workers facing immigration court hearings, consultations with legal counsel, or other immigration-related legal matters. The key provision adds "time needed by the employee in connection with an immigration-related proceeding" as a permitted use under the existing sick leave statute. This change aligns with the state's existing framework for sick leave, which already covers medical care, family care, and domestic violence situations. The bill does not alter sick leave accrual rates or documentation requirements for this new purpose.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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

A 2587: Increases minimum salary of teaching staff members in school districts and educational services commissions.

This bill increases the minimum annual salary for full-time public school teachers in New Jersey from $18,500 to $60,000 (with $61,500 for teachers holding a master's degree or higher), effective for the 2022-2023 school year and all future hires. It directly affects all public school teachers in New Jersey school districts and educational services commissions who are certified as performing acceptably. The bill mandates that school districts cannot pay below these new minimums and requires the state to cover the full difference between current salaries and the new minimums for the 2022-2023 school year, phasing down to zero funding by 2027-2028. This establishes a concrete policy change in teacher compensation standards without altering existing collective bargaining agreements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers Collective Bargaining Minimum Wage

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

ACR 43: Urges President and Congress to enact legislation amending "Civil Rights Act of 1964" to protect worker's right to unionize.

ACR 43 is a non-binding resolution passed by the New Jersey legislature urging the U.S. President and Congress to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It specifically requests that the law be updated to prohibit employer discrimination against workers for union organizing activities, such as firing or demoting employees who seek to form unions. The resolution argues this change would strengthen protections beyond current labor law by allowing workers to seek stronger remedies like punitive damages in federal court. As a concurrent resolution, it does not become law but formally expresses New Jersey's support for this policy goal.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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

A 134: Provides gross income tax deduction for certain wages of qualified health care professionals employed by health care entities.

This bill provides a 25% gross income tax deduction on hourly wages earned by qualified health care professionals working for eligible New Jersey health care entities. It directly affects licensed nurses, nurse aides, physician assistants, home health aides, and direct support professionals employed by facilities like hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, or psychiatric centers. The deduction applies to wages paid during the taxable year, reducing taxable income for these workers. The law takes effect for tax years starting after its enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax

All labor & employment bills