Bill Text: NJ A1441 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Concerns classification of musicians for purposes of State employment laws.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee [A1441 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A1441-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ERIK K. SIMONSEN
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Concerns classification of musicians for purposes of State employment laws.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the classification of musicians with respect to certain employment laws and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a person who performs music for a fee or other compensation shall not be considered an employee and the performance shall not be regarded as employment for purposes the "unemployment compensation law," R.S.43:21-1 et seq., the "Temporary Disability Benefits Law," P.L.1948, c.110 (C.43:21-25 et seq.), the workers' compensation law, R.S.34:15-1 et seq., or the "New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law," P.L.1996, c.113 (C.34:11-56a et seq.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that a person who performs music for a fee or other compensation is not considered an employee for purposes of State employment law.
This bill exempts from coverage under various employment laws of the State any performances by a musician for a fee or other compensation. The exempted musician would not be subject to certain taxes and would not be eligible for unemployment compensation, Temporary Disability Law benefits, workers' compensation, or State Wage and Hour Law benefits.
