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A 1511

Clarifies choice of independent contractor status for certain licensed or regulated professionals.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Roy Freiman and 1 co-sponsor

The bill states that certain regulated professionals under a written independent-contractor agreement are not considered employees for any state purposes.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
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Bill Summary · A 1511

Summary of Bill A-1511 (NJ, Session 222)

Purpose and intent

  • Clarifies that certain licensed or regulated professionals can be treated as independent contractors when they operate under a written agreement that identifies them as such.
  • Seeks to confirm and retroactively apply the understanding that these professionals have historically not been treated as employees under New Jersey law.

Key provisions and changes

  • Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation, a person shall not be classified as an employee for any state purposes if:

    • They perform services governed by a written agreement describing them as an independent contractor, and
    • They fall into one of the following professional categories:
    • Licensed insurance producers under the New Jersey Insurance Producer Licensing Act of 2001 (N.J.S.A. 17:22A-26 et seq.).
    • Broker-dealers, agents, investment advisers, or investment adviser representatives registered or regulated by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities or registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under applicable federal securities laws.
    • Individuals operating a motor vehicle to deliver or pick up freight from a marine terminal or rail facility who meet exemption criteria from the state unemployment employment definition (R.S.43:21-19(i)(7)(X)).
    • Individuals meeting exemption criteria from the definition of “employment” under R.S.43:21-19(i)(7)(J) for unemployment or related purposes.

  • In addition, these regulated professionals are not required to satisfy any additional test to be deemed independent contractors, beyond the written agreement. This includes tests historically applied by:

    • P.L.1965, c.173 (C.34:11-4.1 et seq.), the wage-hour-related provisions, and
    • The New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law (P.L.1966, c.113; C.34:11-56a et seq.).

Affected individuals and entities

  • Professionals who fall into one or more of the following categories:

    • Licensed insurance producers.
    • Broker-dealers, agents, investment advisers, and investment adviser representatives (state or federal registration/regulation).
    • Individuals delivering or picking up freight by motor vehicle from marine terminals or rail facilities meeting unemployment exemption criteria.
    • Individuals meeting unemployment exemption criteria under the specified statute sections related to “employment.”

  • Employers and clients who hire these professionals under written independent-contractor agreements would be affected insofar as those professionals are deemed not to be employees for any state purposes during the term of the written agreement.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Immediate.
  • Retroactivity: Applies retroactively to any written agreement entered into before or after the act’s effective date, specifically for the purpose of enforcing but not changing the terms of that agreement.
  • Legislative intent: Emphasizes enforcing the historical understanding that these professionals are independent contractors when under written agreements, even if past arrangements could have been viewed otherwise under state law.

Practical implications

  • Potential reduction in employee-status protections and benefits for the named professionals when engaged under a written independent-contractor agreement.
  • Possible impact on wage-and-hour, payroll, unemployment, and other employee-related regulations for these workers during the period covered by the written agreement.
  • Creates a uniform standard for recognizing independent-contractor status among the specified regulated professions, reducing reliance on separate tests for employee classification.

Procedural history

  • Introduced: January 13, 2026.
  • Referred to: Assembly Regulated Professions Committee.
  • Primary sponsors: Co-sponsors Roy Freiman and Melinda Kane.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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