Employers and contractors engaged in work for public bodies in New Jersey will face expanded payroll record obligations beginning October 20, 2026, under New Jersey Senate Bill 1403. The updated requirements strengthen oversight of wages, hours, and other employment conditions by formalizing how and when employment records must be produced in response to requests from the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.
The bill requires any employer or contractor engaged in work for a public body, including subcontractors and lower‑tier subcontractors, to submit payroll records and related employment documentation within 10 days of receiving a request from the commissioner or an authorized representative. Requested records must be filed with both the commissioner and the public entity associated with the project. The scope of records subject to request is broad and includes any documentation that relates to or has a bearing on wages, hours, or other conditions of employment for workers performing covered work.
Senate Bill 1403 also revises existing statutory definitions and compliance mechanisms. While certain contractors are excluded from registration requirements, they remain subject to payroll record‑submission obligations. In addition, the commissioner is required to differentiate filing procedures for employers or contractors whose work is not subject to prevailing wage requirements, reflecting distinct compliance processes based on the nature of the work performed for the public body.
The bill includes enhanced enforcement provisions tied directly to record‑submission compliance. If an employer fails to provide requested records within the 10‑day timeframe, the commissioner may direct a public body’s fiscal or financial officer to withhold contract payments. Up to 25 percent of contract payments, capped at $100,000, may be withheld until the commissioner confirms that the record request has been satisfied. Once compliance is confirmed, any withheld amounts must be released promptly.