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Bill > S2358


NJ S2358

NJ S2358
Allows State, municipality, and county to implement automatic enrollment of their employees in deferred compensation plans.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
01/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
01/13/2026

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill permits the State and a county or municipality to adopt an automatic enrollment arrangement where a deferred compensation plan provision permits the employer to defer and deduct a specified percentage from an employee's salary unless the employee affirmatively elects not to defer or to defer a different percentage. This bill provides that, for a county or municipality, such an automatic enrollment arrangement will be optional at the municipality's or county's discretion to adopt. For the State, the automatic enrollment arrangement will be mandatory for employees hired on or after the first January after the bill's effective date unless the employee makes an affirmative election not to defer or to defer at a different percentage. The bill provides that in the case of a plan that includes an automatic enrollment arrangement, the named fiduciary will designate a default investment into which an employee's deferred salary will be invested in the absence of an affirmative investment election from the employee. The bill requires an employer whose employees are represented by a union that is designated as the majority representative pursuant to the "New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act," and eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan, to negotiate the terms of a deferred compensation plan with such majority representative, including whether such employees represented by the majority representative will be automatically enrolled in the plan, the default deduction percentage from an employee's salary, if any, and the default investment, if any. The bill also requires the State, and any other employer whose employees are represented by a union that is designated as the majority representative pursuant to the "New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act," and eligible to participate in the New Jersey State Employees Deferred Compensation Plan, to negotiate the terms of a deferred compensation plan with such majority representative, including whether such employees represented by the majority representative will be automatically enrolled in the plan, the default deduction percentage from an employee's salary, if any, and the default investment, if any. The terms of a negotiated deferred compensation plan must be consistent with any applicable rules and regulations adopted by the New Jersey State Employees Deferred Compensation Board. The bill provides that absent a written agreement between an employer and a majority representative, in order to participate in a deferred compensation plan, an employee represented by the majority representative must be required to affirmatively elect to participate.

AI Summary

This bill allows state, municipal, and county governments to implement automatic enrollment in deferred compensation plans, which are programs where employees can set aside a portion of their salary before taxes for retirement. For counties and municipalities, adopting this automatic enrollment is optional. However, for the State, it will be mandatory for new employees hired after the bill takes effect, unless they choose to opt out or select a different contribution amount. Under automatic enrollment, a specified percentage of an employee's salary will be automatically deducted and contributed to the plan unless the employee actively opts out or chooses a different percentage. The bill also requires that if an employee doesn't make an investment choice, their deferred salary will be automatically invested in a default option chosen by the plan's fiduciary. Importantly, if employees are represented by a union, the terms of any automatic enrollment plan, including the default deduction percentage and investment, must be negotiated with the union, as outlined in the "New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act," which governs labor relations in the state. If no agreement is reached with the union, employees will have to actively elect to participate in the plan.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.358. (on 01/13/2026)

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