Scored 8/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Businesses Hire Bill
New Jersey wants businesses to hire people who were in jail
Provides corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for businesses that employ formerly incarcerated individuals.
Good for everyday people ·
This bill would give tax breaks to New Jersey businesses that hire people who used to be in jail, helping them get jobs.
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
This bill aims to help people who have been in jail get jobs, which is a big step in helping them get their lives back on track and become active parts of their communities. When people can find steady work, they are less likely to get into trouble again, making our neighborhoods safer. Businesses would get a tax break for doing this, which could encourage more hiring. However, these tax breaks mean less money for the state, which could affect other services or mean other taxpayers might pay more. It is important to think about if the benefits of helping people find jobs outweigh the costs to the state's budget.
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The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- New Jersey businesses could get tax credits for hiring people who used to be in jail.
- The credit would be 10% of what they pay these workers, up to $1,200 for each person per year.
- To get the credit, at least 25% of a business's new hires must be people who used to be in jail.
- Businesses must also try hard to find and hire these individuals and their families.
- The bill stops businesses from firing current workers just to hire formerly incarcerated individuals for the credit.
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
Headlines gathered from across the news, starting points to explore, not endorsements. Always read the official text before acting.
Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the New Jersey Bill Book 2026
The best and worst New Jersey bills of 2026, one page each — our take on the left, the bill on the right, and room for your notes. No email needed.
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