Labor & Employment in New Jersey

signed · New Jersey · Senate Aug 27, 2026

S 1281: Prohibits sale, manufacture, and distribution of certain apparel and diaper products containing intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.*

This New Jersey bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, and distribution of apparel containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting two years after it takes effect. It defines "apparel" broadly to include most clothing for regular wear - such as athletic wear, swimwear, school uniforms, and work uniforms - but excludes personal protective equipment, military clothing, and motorcycle safety gear. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under state law, resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense and potential additional penalties like cease-and-desist orders. The law directly affects retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of apparel within New Jersey that use PFAS in their products.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1974: 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 in New Jersey's Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) for public school teachers who leave their positions. It changes the time limit for maintaining membership from two years to four years after discontinuing service for most teachers. For teachers who were laid off or voluntarily left after 10+ years of continuous service, membership is extended to 20 years. This allows affected teachers more time to return to teaching or access pension benefits without losing their membership status. The change directly impacts current and former public school teachers in New Jersey who transition out of teaching roles.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

died · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1397: Concerns valuation of board and lodging with respect to workers' compensation.

This bill (S 1397) revises New Jersey's workers' compensation law to change how employer-provided board and lodging is valued when calculating benefits. Currently valued at a fixed $25 per week, the bill would instead require the market value of such housing to be used (unless a different amount was agreed upon at hiring), except during periods of total temporary disability when the value is excluded from calculations. It directly affects workers receiving compensation who receive housing from their employer. The bill was withdrawn after being incorporated into P.L.2025, c.212, meaning the changes are now part of state law.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2440: Establishes hiring preference for veterans for teaching positions.

This bill requires New Jersey school boards to give hiring preference to veterans for teaching positions when veterans are equally qualified as other candidates in all measurable criteria. It directly affects veterans seeking teaching jobs in public school districts across New Jersey, ensuring they receive priority consideration under this standard. The preference does not apply in school districts using New Jersey's Civil Service system (Title 11A), which follows separate hiring rules for classified positions. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Public Employees Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2636: Provides accidental disability benefits to police who contract COVID-19 under certain circumstances.

This New Jersey bill (S 2636) provides full accidental disability benefits to police officers who permanently and totally disabled from contracting COVID-19 between June 5, 2021, and January 31, 2022. To qualify, officers must have contracted the virus while working outside their home and be permanently disabled as a direct result. The bill retroactively applies to the specified dates and ensures these benefits do not reduce other legally available worker protections. It specifically targets police officers, not all public safety workers, under strict eligibility conditions.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1483: Provides that State pay high school equivalency exam fees for low-income individuals.

This bill creates a program to cover high school equivalency exam fees for low-income individuals in New Jersey. It requires the State Board of Education to establish the program within six months, defining "low-income" as household income at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines. The program will pay for one exam per person, with applicants needing to verify income through specified documentation. It directs 5% of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to support this initiative, but does not change existing fee structures or eligibility for other programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SR 15: Urges President and Congress to exempt Social Security benefits from federal income tax.

SR 15 is a New Jersey Senate resolution urging the federal government to exempt Social Security benefits from federal income tax. It directly affects all Social Security recipients, including retirees (90% of seniors aged 65+), disabled workers, survivors, and dependents, whose benefits currently make up about 30% of their income. The resolution notes that federal taxation of these benefits began in 1984, with income thresholds unchanged since the 1990s, and states that 41 states and the District of Columbia already exempt Social Security from state income tax. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests congressional action to eliminate this federal tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tags Seniors

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1474: Establishes EMS part of PERS; provides enhanced benefits for emergency medical service employees.

This bill establishes a new "EMS Part" within New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) specifically for emergency medical services (EMS) employees, making membership mandatory for all qualifying workers. It sets a 10% salary contribution rate for members and provides enhanced retirement benefits: 50% of final salary for those with 20+ years of service, plus additional payments for service beyond 20 years (up to 25), and 65% of final salary plus 1% per year over 25 (up to 30) for resigning employees with 25+ years. Existing retirement service credit for EMS employees transfers to the new EMS Part without additional cost. The bill directly affects EMTs, paramedics, nurses, and other certified EMS personnel as defined by the legislation.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Public Safety

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2618: Removes exclusion of affectional or sexual orientation and gender identity or expression from affirmative action programs under public works contracts.

This bill removes an exemption that previously allowed public works contractors in New Jersey to exclude protections for sexual orientation and gender identity from their affirmative action programs. It requires contractors on state, county, or municipal public works projects to include these categories in their equal opportunity hiring and employment practices. The law mandates that contractors actively recruit, hire, and promote employees without discrimination based on these factors, aligning with existing protections for race, gender, and other characteristics. This change applies to all public works contracts awarded by New Jersey government entities, directly affecting contractors seeking state or local government work.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 1837: Establishes child care contribution tax credit to employers subject to CBT or GIT for certain child care expenses for children of employees.

This bill creates a 50% tax credit for New Jersey employers subject to Corporate Business Tax (CBT) or General Income Tax (GIT) who pay for certain child care expenses related to their employees' children. It covers costs for building/maintaining on-site child care centers, contracting external providers, or subsidizing employees' child care payments, with a $100,000 annual limit per employer. Employers must apply for the credit through the state, submit documentation, and agree to use the funds for eligible child care services. The total credit pool across all employers is capped at $10 million yearly. The bill does not change existing tax rates but reduces tax liability for qualifying employers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits

All labor & employment bills