New Jersey's S 1135 requires colleges and government employers to inform specific people about the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Public and private colleges must provide this information to students with outstanding federal student loans during their final academic semester and when applying for graduation. Government employers must share the same information with employees at hiring and annually thereafter. The details include eligibility requirements (like 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer) and the program's website, but do not change loan terms or forgiveness eligibility.
S 2581 establishes a tax credit program in New Jersey to incentivize employers to hire and retain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. Employers must become "certified" by partnering with treatment providers, offering qualifying health insurance, and meeting other criteria to qualify for the program. Certified employers can claim a tax credit of $1 per hour worked by eligible employees, up to $2,000 per employee annually, for part-time or full-time employment. The program, administered by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, allocates up to $2 million yearly and requires employers to verify employee eligibility and recovery status. This bill directly affects New Jersey employers seeking tax incentives and individuals with substance use disorder seeking stable employment.
This New Jersey bill (S 69) prohibits requiring or asking about COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition for accessing common services and activities. It directly affects all residents and visitors by making it unlawful for businesses, schools, employers, healthcare providers, and government entities to demand vaccine proof or discriminate against unvaccinated individuals. Key provisions ban such requirements for things like employment, education, healthcare access, business entry, public spaces, and professional licenses. Violators face $25,000 in civil damages plus attorney fees for affected individuals. The law takes immediate effect.
This bill allows partnerships and joint ventures to bid on New Jersey public works projects (like roads, bridges, and water treatment facilities) and contracts requiring prevailing wages, provided every member of the partnership is independently registered. It requires such groups to register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development before winning a contract and name a primary manager to oversee compliance. All parties in the partnership or joint venture become equally responsible for fulfilling the contract or facing penalties, including contract cancellation. The change specifically applies to heavy infrastructure projects, such as transit systems and environmental remediation, expanding bidding opportunities for collaborative business structures.
This bill redirects 1% of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to provide permanent, dedicated annual funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research. It replaces the previous $1 million annual allocation from cigarette tax receipts (which had been diverted to other budget needs in recent years). The Commission, established in 1983, uses this funding to support cancer research projects and advance cancer prevention, treatment, and palliation efforts across New Jersey. The bill ensures consistent funding for the Commission without affecting other existing sources like "Conquer Cancer" license plate revenue.
This bill amends New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "service in the Armed Forces of the United States or liability for service" (covering active duty, veterans, and National Guard/reserve members) in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It directly affects military service members, veterans, and their families by adding these categories to the list of protected characteristics under the law. The key mechanism is updating existing definitions and prohibitions in the statute to include military service status as a protected class, ensuring equal treatment in employment, housing, and public spaces. This change aligns with New Jersey's existing anti-discrimination framework without creating new enforcement mechanisms.
S 1682 requires public employers to verify that certain professional staff (attorneys, engineers, accountants, auditors, physicians, and architects) enrolled in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) are properly classified as employees - not independent contractors - before enrollment. Certifying officers must complete an IRS-based eligibility checklist at enrollment, submit position creation documents, and avoid relying on the employee's self-representation. The bill mandates a new audit program to review existing enrollments within 12 months and requires all certifying officers to complete retroactive certifications for prior enrollments within six months of the bill's effective date. Violations resulting in ineligible enrollments trigger civil fines of $1,000 (first offense) up to $5,000 (third offense) for certifying officers or their supervisors. This bill directly affects public employers, certifying officers, and professional service employees in PERS.
This bill extends the filing deadline for accidental disability retirement applications to cover public safety retirees (police, firefighters, state employees) who participated in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue/cleanup operations. It creates a legal presumption that disabilities like respiratory illnesses, PTSD, or injuries sustained during those operations were work-related - requiring only 8 hours of participation or a documented injury preventing further work. Applicants must now provide medical documentation proving their condition originated from the 9/11 site, with filing deadlines extended beyond the standard 5 years if disability manifested later. The law directly affects retirees who served at the World Trade Center site between September 11-12, 2001, simplifying their path to disability benefits.
This bill requires New Jersey's Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission to review *all* legislation affecting public employees' pension or health benefits, rather than just most such bills as currently required. It directly affects New Jersey state and local government employees whose retirement or health care benefits are modified by new laws. The key mechanism mandates that the Commission analyze the fiscal impact of qualifying bills (including defined benefit plans, retirement savings programs, and health care financing) and provide written recommendations within 45 days of a bill's introduction. The Commission must review every bill that establishes, modifies, or affects pension/health benefit plans, financing, or procedures for public employees.
This bill provides New Jersey businesses with tax credits for hiring disabled veterans. Specifically, businesses receive a 15% credit (capped at $1,800 per veteran) on qualified wages paid to disabled veterans with a 30%+ VA disability rating who are hired after the bill's enactment and employed for at least 185 business days. The credit applies to wages paid between 2023 and 2026 for both corporation business tax and individual gross income tax. Businesses cannot claim this credit if the same wages are used for other state tax credits, and they must avoid displacing other employees solely to access the benefit.
