New Jersey Laws Going Into Effect in 2025
As a new year arrives, that also means new laws. It’s always a good idea to be aware of new laws going into effect on January 1, because these laws could impact you. You also never want to be surprised by new laws, too. So, let’s get into some new New Jersey laws going into effect in 2025, so you know what to expect.
New Jersey Laws for 2025
Minimum Wage
New Jersey’s minimum wage will go up by $0.36 to $15.49 per hour for most employees on January 1, 2025. On a related not, starting June 1, 2025, Bill S2310 will go into effect, which demands “transparency concerning compensation with promotional opportunities and in employment listings.
Data Protection Act
The New Jersey Data Protection Act (NJDPA) will kick in January 15, 2025. The new act “requires notification to consumers of collection and disclosure of personal data by certain entities.”
Freedom to Read Act
The Freedom to Read Act will go into effect in 2025, preventing “arbitrary book banning and protects the rights of students, parents, and communities to have free access to age-appropriate books and learning materials at schools and public libraries.” The act also helps protect certain workers, such as library staff members, against civil and criminal lawsuits related to following the law.
Other Acts
Some other new laws impact affordable housing to help support towns in meeting their affordable housing requirements, allowing sexual assault victims to ask to receive notification of certain developments and a change in teacher certification requirements.
What’s a Bill?
So, what exactly is a bill? A bill is a “proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law,” according to the USA Gov website, and the concept “for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives or be proposed during their election campaign.”
If you’ve ever wondered how long it takes for a federal law to go into effect, according to the USA Gov website, it’s a lengthy and extensive process. For the national laws, it involves the House, Senate and president. Once it gets to the president, the president may sign it into law or refuse to approve it by vetoing it. If the president does veto it, in most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto and make it a law. But, if the president just doesn’t sign it and that law is still unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed as a “pocket veto.”
