SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3214

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 2, 2026

      The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3214.

      As amended, this bill establishes the “New Jersey Earn and Learn Program” which provides tax credits to businesses to encourage apprenticeships and paid internships.  The bill allows for tax credits of up to $5,000 per individual enrollee per year for a period of up to three years. 

      The bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to engage with the Department of Education and the Economic Development Authority to create the program to maximize the impact of the program and further the use of apprenticeships and internships to encourage workforce development.

      The bill provides a base $3,000 tax credit for each apprenticeship or internship enrollee, with additional credits available for small business, minority owned businesses and conversion of enrollees into full-time positions.

      The Director of the Division of Taxation will develop the application process and details of the tax credit process, and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development will create an annual report on the effectiveness of the program.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to exclude building and construction trade businesses from eligibility for the tax credits provided in the bill.  The amended bill also includes a definition of “building and construction trade business” to mean any employer engaged in activities classified within Sector 23 (Construction) of the North American Industry Classification System including, but not limited to, residential and commercial building construction, heavy and civil engineering construction, and specialty trade contractors.