Removes exclusion of certain institutions of higher education under "Responsible Collective Negotiations Act."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Linda Greenstein and 3 co-sponsors

The bill expands the Responsible Collective Negotiations Act to include higher education institutions, requiring them to engage in collective bargaining processes.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee

Bill Summary: S 4179 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and Intent

The bill removes an exclusion that previously limited certain institutions of higher education from the scope of the “Responsible Collective Negotiations Act.”

By eliminating the exclusion, more higher education institutions would be subject to the Act’s requirements for collective negotiations and related labor relations processes.

Key Provisions and Changes

Scope expansion for collective negotiations: The bill broadens the entities covered under the Responsible Collective Negotiations Act to include institutions of higher education that were previously excluded.

Labor relations framework applicable to affected institutions: Once the exclusion is removed, these higher education institutions would be required to engage in the procedures and obligations set forth by the Act. This typically includes:

Employee rights to organize and bargain collectively.
Representation and certification processes for employee bargaining units.
Negotiation duties between recognized bargaining representatives and the institution.
Procedures for resolving disputes related to the bargaining process.

Co-sponsors: The bill has three co-sponsors:

Gordon Johnson
Andrew Zwicker
Angela McKnight

Who/What Would Be Affected

Institutions of higher education in New Jersey that were previously exempted from the Act.

Employees at these institutions who would gain the protections and rights associated with collective bargaining under the Act.

Employer side (the higher education institutions) would bear new obligations to negotiate and comply with the Act’s provisions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced and referred: The bill was introduced in the New Jersey Senate on May 11, 2026, and referred to the Senate Labor Committee for consideration.

The typical legislative path would involve:

Committee review and potential amendments.
Possible passage by the Senate.
Potential consideration by the Assembly (if applicable to the state’s bicameral process) and eventual enactment into law.

Effective date: The summary does not specify an effective date; if enacted, the bill would likely include a separate effective date or phased implementation for the newly covered institutions.

Practical Implications

The expansion could lead to formal bargaining relationships between higher education institutions and their employees, potentially affecting:

Wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Hiring, tenure, and job security policies.
Administrative processes for grievance handling and dispute resolution.

Institutions may need to adjust governance and human resources practices to align with the Act’s requirements.

Note: This summary is based on the bill’s title and action history. For precise language, definitions, exclusions, and any amendments, consult the bill text and fiscal/note accompanying analyses as it proceeds through the legislative process.