Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 919: Amends "Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act" to exclude full-time students and au pairs from definition of domestic worker and remove joint and several liability provision from law.

This bill amends New Jersey's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act to exclude full-time students and au pairs from the legal definition of "domestic worker." It removes these groups from the law's coverage, meaning they will no longer be protected under the bill's wage, scheduling, and working condition provisions. The bill also deletes a provision that held employers jointly liable for violations, meaning employers will no longer face shared financial responsibility for unpaid wages or other breaches. These changes directly affect domestic workers who are full-time students or au pairs by removing their legal protections under this law.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1555: Prevents intoxicated employees from receiving workers' compensation.

This bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to bar employees from receiving benefits if intoxication contributed to their injury or death. It directly affects workers injured while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, presuming intoxication caused the injury unless proven otherwise. The key provision shifts the burden to the employee to demonstrate that intoxication was not a material factor in the incident. This changes the prior standard (from the *Tlumac* case) that required intoxication to be the "sole cause" for denying benefits. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

passed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 18, 2026

S 2782: 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.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Unemployment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2095: "Government Reality Check Act"; prohibits public employers from providing certain benefits to public employees; restricts gifts to public employees; restricts travel by public employees; imposes post-employment restriction on public contracting employees.

This bill, S 2095 ("Government Reality Check Act"), prohibits most public employees and legislators in New Jersey from accepting certain external benefits related to their official duties. It restricts gifts, out-of-state travel reimbursements (capping at $500 per trip unless from nonprofits/federal entities), and free/discounted entertainment tickets unless broadly available to the public or large groups. Exceptions include reasonable book royalties, travel costs covered by nonprofits or federal agencies, and pre-approved legislative travel. The law directly affects all state officers, employees, and legislators, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest by limiting outside income and perks tied to public roles.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1481: Establishes minimum student to employee ratio for calculating State support for employee fringe benefit costs at four-year public institutions of higher education.

This bill sets a 9:1 student-to-employee ratio for calculating state funding toward employee benefits at New Jersey's four-year public colleges. It requires the state to limit funding for fringe benefits to no more than nine full-time students per full-time employee position. Public institutions may use a better ratio (fewer students per employee) if they choose, but the state will not fund more employee positions than actually exist at the college. The rule applies to how state funds cover benefits like health insurance and retirement for college staff.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Education ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2372: Concerns workers' compensation insurance requirements for certain corporations and partnerships.

This bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to clarify coverage requirements for business owners. It states that self-employed individuals, partners in partnerships, members of limited liability companies, and S corporation shareholders who actively work for their business are considered "employees" *only if their business elects to cover them* through workers' compensation insurance. Businesses are not required to purchase coverage unless they have at least one regular employee (not just the owner). The bill also clarifies that insurers cannot be sued for failing to cover these business owners unless the insurer acted with gross negligence, and requires new application notices about coverage options.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2098: Imposes restrictions concerning Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioners, officers, and employees regarding employment, gifts, and compensation.

S 2098 restricts personal expense reimbursements for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioners, officers, and employees. It prohibits paying for personal vehicle use (including commuting), tolls, or fares, and requires written approval for travel reimbursements. The bill also bans housing allowances, personal credit lines, and tuition reimbursements unless tied to specific job duties with a 5-year service commitment. These rules directly affect all Port Authority staff and subsidiaries, aiming to prevent personal financial benefits from public employment. The law focuses on concrete policy changes to limit personal expense coverage related to official duties.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 467: Allows political subdivisions of State to purchase unused sick leave from officer or employee under certain circumstances; prohibits authorizing special emergency appropriations for unused sick leave purchases.

This bill (S 467) modifies New Jersey law to regulate how local governments can purchase unused sick leave from public employees. It sets a $15,000 cap on supplemental retirement payments for unused sick leave, limits annual purchases to 120 hours per employee (at 60% of the leave's value based on pensionable compensation), and requires employees to retain at least 800 hours of unused sick leave. The bill applies to political subdivisions (like cities and counties) and covers most public employees, excluding certain licensed professionals (e.g., health officers, tax assessors, municipal clerks). It also clarifies that sick leave purchases are discretionary and not subject to collective bargaining.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 285: Removes certain part-time elected public officials from eligibility for employer-paid health care benefits coverage; makes elected public officials ineligible for payments for waiving health care benefits coverage; codifies Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit.

This bill (S 285) changes health care benefit rules for New Jersey elected officials. It removes part-time elected officials (those working fewer than 35 hours weekly) from eligibility for employer-paid health care coverage and prohibits them from receiving payments for waiving such coverage. The bill also codifies a dedicated Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit to investigate public pension and benefit fraud. These changes apply to officials serving in county, municipal, or contracting unit roles covered under existing health benefit programs. The bill is currently pending in the Senate.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1352: Prohibits remote work for State employees.

This bill prohibits remote work for New Jersey State employees in career, senior executive, and unclassified service positions. It amends state law to explicitly ban remote work eligibility, overriding the existing 2022 Model Telework Pilot Program that allowed up to two remote days weekly. The Civil Service Commission can no longer establish rules permitting remote work for these employee categories. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

All labor & employment bills