Labor & Employment

died · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1828: Adjusts qualification threshold for New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Program.

S 1828 adjusts New Jersey's Secure Choice Savings Program by lowering the employee threshold for employer participation. Previously, employers with fewer than 25 employees were exempt, but this bill removes that exemption, requiring all employers with at least one employee in New Jersey to offer the program if they don't provide a retirement plan. The bill directly affects small businesses (previously exempt) and requires them to automatically enroll eligible employees into the state-run retirement savings program via payroll deductions. Key mechanisms include eliminating the 25-employee minimum, mandating automatic enrollment (with opt-out options), and allowing employees to set contribution levels up to IRS-deductible limits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires all NJ employers (including small businesses) to offer retirement plans if no existing plan, expanding worker access to retirement benefits per Labor & Employment topic.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

Track

died · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2358: Allows State, municipality, and county to implement automatic enrollment of their employees in deferred compensation plans.

This bill allows New Jersey state, municipal, and county employers to automatically enroll employees in retirement savings plans (deferred compensation plans), with employees able to opt out or choose different contribution levels. It requires employers to set a default savings rate that may increase over time and provide clear notice about enrollment options. Union-represented employees require negotiated terms for enrollment details, rather than automatic enrollment without input. The bill was enacted as law (P.L.2025, c.358) after being introduced and withdrawn in 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement benefits for public employees via automatic enrollment with opt-out, requiring default contribution rates and union negotiations - strengthens worker financial security.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Retirement Benefits

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1755: Permits inclusion of volunteer firefighters and other emergency responders within municipal eligible employee group for purposes of the small employer health benefits plan statutes.

This bill (S 1755) expands eligibility for New Jersey's small employer health benefits plans to include volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. It amends the definition of "eligible employee" to specifically cover members of volunteer fire companies, first aid squads, or emergency/rescue teams serving their municipality under state law (N.J.S.40A:10-26 through N.J.S.40A:10-32). This change allows these volunteers - previously excluded - to enroll in their municipality's small employer health plan, which typically covers full-time municipal employees working 25+ hours weekly. The bill does not alter plan benefits or costs; it only adjusts who qualifies as an eligible participant under existing statutes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands health benefits access for volunteer emergency responders, a previously excluded group, strengthening employment benefits coverage under small employer plans.95% confidence

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1783: 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 modifies how New Jersey public entities (like counties, municipalities, school districts, and universities) purchase construction services. It requires cost-effectiveness reviews before using cooperative purchasing agreements with other states or localities, bans time-and-materials contracts for public works projects covered by prevailing wage laws, and allows indefinite delivery/quantity contracts for goods or services without final project plans. The changes aim to streamline procurement while ensuring competitive bidding and compliance with prevailing wage requirements. The bill directly affects all contracting units authorized to purchase goods or contract for services under New Jersey law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans time-and-materials contracts for public works under prevailing wage laws, enforcing wage protections without direct labor policy language.85% confidence

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1497: Authorizes State employees to take administrative leave days in observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha; requires school districts to permit students excused absences for observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

S 1497 requires New Jersey state employees (including those at Rutgers and other public universities) to be granted one additional administrative leave day per year for each of the religious holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, without using their regular leave allotment. It also mandates that public school districts record absences for these holidays as excused for all students. The bill ensures students absent for these observances cannot be penalized academically (e.g., lose awards or test opportunities) if a parent/guardian provides written notice, and excludes these absences from transcripts or employment forms. These provisions make Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha official excused religious holidays for both state workers and public school students in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates excused absences for Eid holidays without academic penalty, supporting student access and religious inclusivity in schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants state employees additional leave for religious holidays without penalty, protecting workers' rights to religious accommodation under employment standards.90% confidence

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1632: Establishes fringe benefit rate for State colleges and universities.

This bill establishes a separate fringe benefit rate for New Jersey's public colleges and universities, starting in fiscal year 2025. Currently, these institutions use a general state rate that doesn't reflect their actual employee benefit costs - many staff are in the less expensive Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP) rather than the standard Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). The new rate will be based on the actual cost of retirement programs at these institutions and applied to all federal, dedicated, and non-State funded programs. This change directly affects public higher education funding by aligning benefit costs with actual employee retirement plan expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdjusts fringe benefit rate to actual costs for public colleges, ensuring accurate state budget allocation and promoting fiscal responsibility in public university funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdjusts fringe benefit rates to actual costs for public universities, ensuring proper funding alignment for employee benefits and supporting higher education institutions' financial stability.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes actual-cost fringe benefit rate for state college staff, correcting underfunding of retirement benefits (ABP vs. PERS), advancing worker benefit protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Higher Education Retirement Benefits

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2046: Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances.

This New Jersey bill (S 2046) expands the Family Leave Act to provide up to 21 days of protected leave for employees experiencing specific bereavement events, including the death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage, or failed fertility treatment. It directly affects employees working for employers with 30+ staff (down from 50 under previous rules), covering situations like pregnancy loss or a child’s death, whether through birth, adoption, or gestational carrier arrangements. The leave is available through the existing Temporary Disability Benefits system, with 21 days for cases not covered by other leave types (like miscarriage) and 7 days when other leave applies (like stillbirth). This change ensures employees can take time off without job loss for these deeply personal losses, aligning with New Jersey’s broader family leave protections.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands protected bereavement leave (21 days) for pregnancy loss/child death, lowers employer threshold from 50 to 30 staff, directly strengthening worker benefits under employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1849: Requires PFRS enrollment to be retroactive to first date of employment for death benefit eligibility.

This bill (S 1849) changes death benefit eligibility for police and fire department employees in New Jersey. It requires the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) to treat employees who died before enrolling in the system as if they were enrolled from their first day of employment. This means surviving spouses, children, or parents of such employees can now receive death benefits they previously would not have qualified for. The change applies retroactively to deaths occurring before the bill's enactment, with beneficiaries having up to 12 months after the bill takes effect to apply for these benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands death benefits eligibility retroactively for police/fire families, ensuring surviving spouses/children receive previously denied benefits under PFRS.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1502: Increases PFRS accidental disability pension when disability is caused by weapon.

This bill increases pension benefits for New Jersey police and firefighters (members of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System) who become permanently disabled while on duty due to weapon-related injuries. It modifies the pension calculation so that affected members receive 100% of their final annual salary instead of the standard two-thirds, providing a significantly higher benefit. The change applies specifically to disabilities caused by weapons, as defined under New Jersey law, and does not alter other disability pension rules. This adjustment aims to better compensate first responders injured in line-of-duty incidents involving weapons.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases disability pension benefits for police/firefighters (100% salary vs. two-thirds) for on-duty weapon injuries, directly expanding worker compensation.95% confidence

Track

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 23, 2026

S 1583: Provides access to periodic cancer screening examinations for volunteer firefighters through SHBP physicians and other providers.

New Jersey's S 1583 requires free cancer screenings every three years for volunteer firefighters through the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) network. The screenings cover 11 specific cancers (including colon, lung, prostate, and breast) with no out-of-pocket costs for firefighters. Physicians providing these screenings can be reimbursed up to $1,250 per three-year period by the state, and fire districts must maintain records to facilitate payment. This extends an existing benefit for paid firefighters to volunteer firefighters, who previously did not have guaranteed access to such screenings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends free cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters via SHBP, increasing access to preventive care without out-of-pocket costs.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides free cancer screenings for volunteer firefighters (a high-risk occupation), expanding workplace safety benefits and addressing job-related health hazards through SHBP coverage.92% confidence

Track