Labor & Employment in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 152: Requires certain employers with State contracts to pay their employees their usual compensation for each day of jury service.

This bill requires employers with state contracts to pay employees their usual wages for each day of jury service, minus any daily jury fee they receive. It applies specifically to employers who have a state contract (any agreement paid with state funds) and employ an average of at least 50 people for 20+ weeks. Employees must have worked for the employer at least 12 months and 1,000 base hours in the prior year. Violations are punishable as disorderly persons offenses, and employees can sue for lost wages or reinstatement within 90 days.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1909: Establishes program for recruitment, training, and retention of health care professionals in veterans memorial homes; appropriates $370,000.

This bill establishes a two-year pilot program to address staffing shortages at New Jersey's veterans memorial homes (Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland). It directly affects nurses and healthcare staff by offering education reimbursement for current employees pursuing licenses (e.g., LPN, RN) and providing recruitment bonuses of up to $6,000 for new hires. Key mechanisms include reimbursing tuition costs (capped at $7,500/semester) with a two-year work commitment after graduation, and allocating $120,000 for recruitment bonuses. The program appropriates $370,000 total from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund, requiring annual reports on participation and outcomes.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Workforce Development Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1214: Establishes program in DOLWD to connect persons with disabilities with job training and employment.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to create a program connecting people with disabilities to job training and employment opportunities. It mandates DOLWD to collaborate with qualified nonprofits (with at least five years' experience serving disabled individuals) to develop job training materials and establish an online resource hub. The hub will list training organizations, allow employers to post jobs, and provide information on labor laws and fair employment practices. The program directly affects people with disabilities seeking work, training providers, and employers in New Jersey, with annual reports required to the Governor and Legislature.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2734: Provides gross income tax exclusion for capital gains from sale of certain employer securities by qualified businesses that result in net positive benefit to State.

This bill allows business owners in New Jersey to exclude capital gains tax from selling company shares to employee ownership structures, specifically benefiting small businesses (under 500 employees, not publicly traded, with NJ headquarters). To qualify, the sale must transfer ownership to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), a NJ S-corp owned by an ESOP, or a worker-owned cooperative, with employees gaining at least 30% ownership after the transaction. The tax exclusion requires pre-approval from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), which verifies the deal will retain full-time NJ jobs and yield a net economic benefit to the state (measured by retained tax revenue and reduced unemployment claims). It aims to incentivize small business owners to sell to employees instead of outside buyers, preserving local jobs and state tax revenue.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Revenue Unemployment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2824: Requires health insurance coverage of at-home rehabilitation services.

This bill requires all health insurance plans sold in New Jersey to cover at-home rehabilitation services on the same terms as other medical treatments. It directly affects every health insurance policy, group plan, health maintenance organization (HMO), and health benefits plan issued in the state, including those covering individual or small employer plans. The law defines "at-home rehabilitation" as treatment for physical, functional, or mental impairments (from injury or disease) using medical equipment or tools within a person's home. Insurers must provide these benefits without additional cost-sharing or restrictions compared to other covered conditions, starting from the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3032: Establishes "Guaranteed Income Pilot Program" in DOLWD for residents of certain cities.

This bill establishes a two-year guaranteed income pilot program in seven New Jersey cities (Paterson, Passaic City, Jersey City, Plainfield, Newark, Trenton, and Camden). It would provide $500 monthly for 18 months to 500 randomly selected low-income residents per city - those with household income under $80,000 in the prior year and no more than one participant per household. The program requires the state Treasury and Labor departments to collect economic data and voluntary participant surveys on spending habits and financial changes. A final report detailing findings and recommendations must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within 10 months of the pilot’s conclusion. The bill focuses on studying the program’s effects without imposing conditions on recipients.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1959: Concerns vaccine mandates and eligibility for unemployment benefits for certain health care workers.

This bill (S 1959) prevents healthcare workers from being denied unemployment benefits if they leave or are terminated due to refusing to comply with New Jersey's 2022 vaccine mandate for healthcare settings (Executive Order 283). It ensures workers who are otherwise eligible for benefits cannot be disqualified solely because they left employment over vaccine non-compliance. The law applies retroactively to claims filed after January 19, 2022, and expires one year after enactment. It directly affects healthcare workers in facilities covered by the mandate who face termination or resignation over vaccination requirements.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Unemployment

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1467: Expands Tuition Aid Grant program to include workforce training programs.

This bill expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program to include eligible workforce training programs alongside traditional degree-granting institutions. It requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to designate programs meeting specific criteria: minimum 150 hours of classroom instruction, offering industry-valued credentials, and maintaining at least 70% completion and job placement rates. The change directly affects students in non-degree workforce training programs and the institutions offering them, allowing these programs to access state tuition aid. The authority will determine eligibility based on these standards, while maintaining existing requirements for degree programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Workforce Development

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1840: Creates "New Jersey Responsible AI Advancement and Workforce Protection Act."

This bill establishes the "New Jersey Responsible AI Advancement and Workforce Protection Act" to create a framework for AI deployment that prioritizes worker protections and community impact. It requires AI infrastructure companies (like large computing facilities) to pay a 5% fee on their revenue into the AI Horizon Fund, which will support worker retraining, clean energy upgrades for AI facilities, and community resilience programs. Employers with 100+ employees must disclose AI-related layoffs (including dates and numbers) and make supplemental contributions to the fund based on affected workers. The bill also mandates environmental assessments for large AI projects and algorithmic impact reviews for high-risk AI systems used in housing, employment, and healthcare.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Artificial Intelligence

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1302: Establishes task force to study issues facing returning members of US Armed Forces, NJ National Guard, and reserve component of US Armed Forces; creates permanent commission to study various definitions related to veteran status.

S 1302 creates two bodies to address veteran support in New Jersey. A 13-member task force will study issues faced by service members returning from Afghanistan/Iraq deployments (including mental health, employment, and family needs) and recommend state actions. A separate 5-member commission will review inconsistent state definitions of "veteran" and "disabled veteran" to improve clarity and uniformity. Both groups must issue reports with findings and legislative recommendations within six months. The bill directly affects returning National Guard members, reservists, and their families, focusing on practical support systems rather than new benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mental Health National Guard & Reserve Veteran Employment Veteran Mental Health

All labor & employment bills