LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
SENATE, No. 3593
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
DATED: JULY 14, 2026
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
“New Jersey Works Act”; permits businesses to apply for tax credits for establishing approved pre-employment and work readiness training programs in partnership with schools, nonprofit organizations, or educational institutions. |
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Type of Impact: |
Annual net State revenue decrease to the General Fund and Property Tax Relief Fund. Increase in State costs. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Department of the Treasury. Department of State. |
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Office of Legislative Services Estimate |
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Fiscal Impact |
Annual |
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Direct State Revenue Loss |
Up to $2,000,000 |
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Indirect State Revenue Gain |
Indeterminate |
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State Cost Increase |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill will result in an annual net decrease in State revenues. Several factors, such as the amount of assistance provided to pre-employment and work readiness training programs and the number of participants that receive employment following program completion, will impact the specific magnitude of the direct and indirect State revenue effects of the bill.
· The direct State revenue loss may be partially offset by the indirect State revenue effects catalyzed through new training and employment opportunities, such as additional State revenues from program participants hired by business entities that provide assistance to pre-employment and work readiness training programs. In contrast, the fiscal effects generated by employment opportunities with credit-receiving businesses that will be created irrespective of the tax credit award cannot be attributed to the bill.
· The OLS anticipates that the State will incur additional costs related to the review of pre-employment and work readiness training programs and the completion of an efficacy study. The bill does not include an appropriation to pay for these expenses.
BILL DESCRIPTION
This bill incentivizes businesses to establish pre-employment and work readiness training programs together with certain types of educational institutions or with nonprofit organizations. Under the bill, a business may receive a credit against the corporation business tax or gross income tax for 100 percent of the financial assistance provided to support a qualified pre-employment and work readiness training program approved by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Businesses engaged in a construction trade are excluded from participating in the program.
A maximum of $2.0 million in tax credits per State fiscal year are allowed to be granted to taxpayers for assistance provided to an institution of higher education, a comprehensive high school, a vocational school or a nonprofit organization for an approved pre-employment and work readiness training program.
The bill requires the Department of State to conduct a study of the efficacy of the training programs and tax credits following two years from the date of enactment of the bill and to report the findings to the Governor and the Legislature.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS concludes that this bill will result in an indeterminate annual net loss of State revenues to the General Fund and Property Tax Relief Fund beginning in FY 2027. Multiple factors will influence the magnitude of the direct and indirect revenue effects of the bill.
The bill permits the awarding of up to $2.0 million in tax credits annually to business entities that provide financial assistance to an approved pre-employment and work readiness training program. The bill requires program participants to receive the State minimum wage for 12 weeks of paid training. Trainees may also receive employment at the business entity which provided assistance to support the program. If a program participant is subject to the gross income tax or spends the resultant income on goods and services that are subject to the sales and use tax, then a portion of the revenue loss will be offset by State revenue collections.
Actual annual revenue losses will be driven by the total amount contributed by business entities to approved pre-employment and work readiness training programs. The OLS cannot predict how many business entities will support a pre-employment and work readiness training program or the total amount of assistance that will be provided to these programs. The bill’s limitation on the costs or expenses eligible for the tax credit may further dampen the bill’s impact on State finances.
The OLS anticipates that the State will incur
additional costs related to the implementation of the bill. At a minimum,
these costs would be associated with the approval of qualified pre-employment
and work readiness training programs by the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development and the completion of an efficacy study by the Department of State.
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Section: |
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Analyst: |
Staff Fiscal and Budget Analyst |
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Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).