New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Senate Bill S1355

Introduced
1/9/24  

Caption

Prevents future tax increases based on revisions to employee unemployment tax wage base; allocates $100 million to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance.

Impact

The implications of S1355 on state law are multifaceted. By halting the upward adjustment of the wage base used to calculate unemployment taxes, the bill directly aims to protect low and middle-class workers from increased payroll taxes. This approach is designed to alleviate financial stress on these employees during economic downturns, particularly as the state navigates recovery efforts post-pandemic. Overall, the proposed legislation is anticipated to provide more stability for both employers and employees within New Jersey’s labor market.

Summary

Senate Bill S1355 aims to provide significant changes to the state's unemployment compensation system. The bill prohibits future tax increases based on revisions to the employee unemployment tax wage base, which is set to remain fixed at the 2022 rate. Additionally, the legislation allocates $100 million from federal government assistance to support the unemployment compensation fund. This move is intended to offset any losses stemming from the wage base freeze, ensuring that employers are not subject to higher tax rates while still contributing to the fund's solvency.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits, there are notable points of contention surrounding Bill S1355. Critics argue that the freeze on the unemployment tax wage base may negatively impact the state's unemployment fund in the long term, potentially leading to higher deficits in future years. There are concerns that by relying on federal assistance to offset losses, the state may be overlooking the need for sustainable funding solutions for its unemployment compensation system. This debate emphasizes the challenge of balancing immediate employee protection with long-term fiscal responsibility for the state's unemployment programs.

Companion Bills

NJ S2758

Carry Over Prevents future tax increases based on revisions to employee unemployment tax wage base; allocates $100 million to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance.

Previously Filed As

NJ S2758

Prevents future tax increases based on revisions to employee unemployment tax wage base; allocates $100 million to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance.

NJ A2440

Allocates $2.5 billion to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.

NJ S1832

Allocates $2.5 billion to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.

NJ S2637

Allocates $2.5 billion to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.

NJ A4077

Allocates assistance to unemployment compensation fund from federal government and State funds, suspends certain increases in employer taxes, and adjusts wages for purpose of calculation of rate of employer contribution to fund.

NJ A3223

Allocates assistance to unemployment compensation fund from federal government and State funds, suspends certain increases in employer taxes, and adjusts wages for purpose of calculation of rate of employer contribution to fund.

NJ A2152

Allocates sufficient funds to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.

NJ A2800

Reduces employer unemployment taxes by adjusting the unemployment compensation fund experience rate column for FY2024.

NJ A4095

Reduces employer unemployment taxes by adjusting the unemployment compensation fund experience rate column for FY2024.

NJ S3310

Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund.

Similar Bills

NJ S3310

Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund.

NJ A4043

Redirects portion of worker's unemployment compensation trust fund contribution to unemployment compensation administration fund.

NJ S733

Provides for transfers from General Fund to UI trust fund, reduces employer contributions to UI trust fund, assesses contributions from employers to repay transferred amounts, and provides tax credits to small businesses to offset UI tax increases.

NJ A2152

Allocates sufficient funds to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance and halts increases in employer unemployment taxes related to benefits paid during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic state of emergency.

NJ S2758

Prevents future tax increases based on revisions to employee unemployment tax wage base; allocates $100 million to unemployment compensation fund from federal government assistance.

NJ A4261

Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions.

NJ S852

Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions.

NJ S2115

Reduces taxable wage base applied to certain tax contributions.