PRIA Logo™
New JerseyA2813220th Legislature (2024-2025)HouseWALLET

Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact.

Sponsored By: Vin Gopal (Democratic), Louis D. Greenwald (Democratic), Angela V. McKnight (Democratic), Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (Democratic), Shanique Speight (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Social workers face shared discipline rules

Only the home state can restrict the multistate license itself; that restriction stops practice rights in all remote states until resolved. A remote state can restrict practice within its borders, but cannot discipline lawful conduct in another state. States can share information and investigate together, but must follow their own due-process rules. Licensees must report any adverse action or license restriction to their home state within 30 days.

Social workers gain multistate practice with fees

New Jersey joined the Social Work Licensure Compact effective May 8, 2025; national operations require seven states to enact it. The compact lets qualified social workers practice across member states, including through telehealth, using one home-state multistate license. Applicants need an unrestricted home-state license, qualifying education and exam or prior-license credentials, and fingerprint-based criminal-history checks. Clinical applicants also need 3,000 hours or two full-time years of supervised postgraduate practice, or a commission-approved equivalent. Licensees pay applicable licensing and background-check fees, meet home-state renewal rules, and follow the laws where clients are located.

Military social workers keep licensing home state

Active-duty service members and their spouses can designate a state where they hold a multistate license as their home state. They can keep that designation throughout active duty, helping preserve compact licensing status despite military moves.

Moving social workers must reapply and pay

Social workers changing their home state to another compact state must immediately apply for reissuance and pay applicable fees. The new state checks eligibility and criminal history, including fingerprints or other biometric data. The old multistate license becomes inactive when the new one is issued; workers cannot hold two home-state multistate licenses. Workers who fail reissuance requirements, or move between compact and nonmember states, must meet the new state's single-state licensing rules.

States share social work licensing oversight

Member states must regulate social work, handle complaints, conduct background checks, and share licensing, discipline, and significant investigation records. A joint commission runs the compact and data system, with one voting delegate per state. Its rules bind member states and generally require public notice and comment; shorter procedures apply to emergency rules. The commission can charge licensees fees and states annual assessments, and must undergo an annual financial review. States can limit public access to designated records, and legally expunged data must be removed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Vin Gopal

    Democratic • Senate

  • Louis D. Greenwald

    Democratic • House

  • Angela V. McKnight

    Democratic • Senate

  • Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Shanique Speight

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Atkins, Reginald W.

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Linda S. Carter

    Democratic • House

  • Hall, Garnet R.

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Gordon M. Johnson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert J. Karabinchak

    Democratic • House

  • Matsikoudis, Michele

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Tennille R. McCoy

    Democratic • House

  • William F. Moen Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Carmen Theresa Morales

    Democratic • House

  • Paul D. Moriarty

    Democratic • Senate

  • Declan J. O'Scanlon Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • William B. Sampson IV

    Democratic • House

  • Shirley K. Turner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Anthony S. Verrelli

    Democratic • House

  • Benjie E. Wimberly

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 116 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/24/2025

3RDG FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 39 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2024

3RDG FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 77 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.51.

    5/8/2025Governor

  2. Passed Senate, PBH — (39-0)

    3/24/2025Senate

  3. Substituted for S2688

    3/24/2025Senate

  4. Reported, 2nd Reading in Senate

    3/17/2025Senate

  5. Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

    10/21/2024Senate

  6. Reported, 2nd Reading in Senate

    10/10/2024Senate

  7. Received in Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee

    4/11/2024Senate

  8. Passed Assembly — (77-0-0)

    3/18/2024House

  9. Reported, 2nd Reading in Assembly

    2/22/2024House

  10. Introduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee

    1/9/2024House

Bill Text

  • Version PL2025

    7/2/2025

    HTMLPDF

  • Version AL2025

    6/6/2025

    HTMLPDF

  • Assembly Regulated Professions (2/22/24 TR)

    3/25/2025

    HTMLPDF

  • Senate Budget and Appropriations Substitute (3/17/25)

    3/18/2025

    HTMLPDF

  • Senate Commerce Substitute (10/10/24)

    10/11/2024

    HTMLPDF

  • 3/19/24; as introduced

    3/19/2024

    HTMLPDF

  • As Introduced

    2/23/2024

    HTMLPDF

  • Assembly Regulated Professions Substitute (2/22/24)

    2/23/2024

    HTMLPDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation