2026 NJ Legislative Agenda: What We're Fighting For

Our 2026 Campaign to Build a Stronger New Jersey for Working Families!

Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Agenda:

1. Fully Fund the State Pension (FY27 Budget Item) 

The New Jersey state pension fund covers the retirement benefits for approximately 815,000 current and retired state and local government workers. Even though the State has fully funded the state pension in every budget for the past four years, the system is severely underfunded, and full contributions are essential to continuing on the path to a secure pension system. 

2. Raise Revenue by Taxing the Wealthy & Making Corporations Pay Their Fair Share (FY27 Budget Item) 

Making corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share is a good common-sense policy that will allow our State to invest in programs and services that support working people, like education and transportation - particularly when federal funding is on the line.

  • Introducing new tax brackets for high-income earners
  • Requiring large multinational corporations to report profits from overseas subsidiaries
  • Rebuilding the auditing and collection workforce

3. Increasing Affordability, Transparency, and Reducing Costs in Healthcare (Legislative Item, New Bill Introduction Pending. 2024-2025 version - A.5903 Asm. Verrelli)

Healthcare premiums for public employees and the cost of care in New Jersey are skyrocketing, making healthcare increasingly unaffordable for union members across the State. Meanwhile, the system lacks the necessary transparency and fair governance to allow meaningful oversight. That’s why we’re fighting for a legislative solution to achieve more affordable rates for state and local employees, bringing down healthcare costs, and increasing transparency and fair governance of the State Health Benefits Commission. 

  • Establish affordable contribution rates for the public sector workforce. 
  • Implement Reference Based Pricing, similar to Oregon, Montana and California, to limit reimbursement rates to 175% and 200% of medicare, for in and out of network services respectively, to control costs and achieve significant savings. 
  • Reconfigure the State Health Benefits Commission to create more equal governance and expand transparency measures.