On January 12, the New Jersey Legislature voted on more than 100 bills to close out the 2024-25 legislative session. Several bills will help protect New Jersey residents, while others weaken fiscal accountability and create challenges for the next legislature and administration.
In response to these bills, NJPP issues the following statements:
On paid family leave job protection expansion (A3451/S2950):
“No New Jersey worker should ever have to choose between bonding with their new child and keeping their job,” said NJPP Senior Policy Analyst Peter Chen. “This bill protects hundreds of thousands of workers from being fired or demoted for taking family leave. The next legislature should finish the job by closing remaining loopholes and extending these protections to everyone.”
On higher rates on heavy users of electricity (A5462/S4307):
“As New Jerseyans are already dealing with sky-high utility bills, this bill makes sure energy-intensive businesses, like data centers, pay for the costs they’re passing on to families. ” said Alex Ambrose, Policy Analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective. “With PJM adding more data centers to the grid, New Jersey needs to protect residents from footing the bill. Governor Murphy must sign this to hold heavy electricity users accountable and keep costs down for families.”
On bills loosening and expanding corporate subsidy programs (A6298/S5025 and A6306/S5031):
“The state is staring down a deficit of more than $1 billion and working-class families are struggling to afford basics,” said Peter Chen, New Jersey Policy Perspective Senior Policy Analyst. “Now is not the time for more giveaways to politically connected corporations. A $300 million tax credit to the Prudential Center and loosened accountability rules chip away at the reformed 2020 corporate subsidy law. Governor Murphy should reject these bills and protect his legacy of reining in billionaire giveaways.”
