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New JerseyA5792220th Legislature (2024-2025)HouseWALLET

Provides for workers' compensation coverage of certain counseling services for first responders and provides that certain mental health related communications are confidential.

Sponsored By: Mitchelle Drulis (Democratic), Roy Freiman (Democratic), Dan Hutchison (Democratic), Joseph A. Lagana (Democratic), Annette Quijano (Democratic), Nicholas P. Scutari (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Paid counseling for New Jersey first responders

Beginning August 21, 2025, New Jersey employers must cover up to 12 hours of confidential counseling after qualifying work-related critical incidents. Coverage runs through workers’ compensation, separate from health-plan benefits, and counseling must relate to the incident. Eligible workers include police officers, paid 9-1-1 dispatchers, full-time public firefighters, paid rescue squad members, and other employees dispatched for emergency medical help. Qualifying incidents include gunfire, terrorism, hostage situations, personal injury, witnessing death or maiming, and life-threatening rescues. They also include serious injury or death of a child or fellow agency responder, violent-crime investigations involving children, and child drownings or near-drownings. Responders choose a licensed professional who understands first responder culture and specializes in treating police or firefighting critical incidents. Employers must cover up to 24 additional hours when that professional finds they would help and likely improve the responder’s condition. All sessions must finish within one year after the first visit. Employers cannot require workers to use paid leave for sessions during regular work hours.

Private mental health support for police officers

Beginning August 21, 2025, New Jersey protects police officers’ mental health talks with designated resiliency officers or trained peer-support members. These talks are generally confidential, and those support personnel do not have to disclose them. Exceptions apply when the officer is reasonably believed to pose a danger to themselves or others. An exception also applies when there is evidence the officer committed a crime.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Mitchelle Drulis

    Democratic • House

  • Roy Freiman

    Democratic • House

  • Dan Hutchison

    Democratic • House

  • Joseph A. Lagana

    Democratic • Senate

  • Annette Quijano

    Democratic • House

  • Nicholas P. Scutari

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Carmen F. Amato Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • Rosaura Bagolie

    Democratic • House

  • Margie Donlon M.D.

    Democratic • House

  • Tennille R. McCoy

    Democratic • House

  • Cody D. Miller

    Democratic • House

  • William F. Moen Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Carol A. Murphy

    Democratic • House

  • Luanne M. Peterpaul Esq.

    Democratic • House

  • Ramirez, Jessica

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Heather Simmons

    Democratic • House

  • Sterley S. Stanley

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Swain

    Democratic • House

  • Chris Tully

    Democratic • House

  • Anthony S. Verrelli

    Democratic • House

  • Benjie E. Wimberly

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 119 • No: 0

House vote • 6/30/2025

3RDG FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 80 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/30/2025

3RDG FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.134.

    8/21/2025Governor

  2. Passed Senate, PBH — (39-0)

    6/30/2025Senate

  3. Substituted for S4590 (1R)

    6/30/2025Senate

  4. Received in Senate, SWR, 2nd Reading in Senate

    6/30/2025Senate

  5. Passed Assembly — (80-0-0)

    6/30/2025House

  6. REP/ACA, 2nd Reading in Assembly

    6/16/2025House

  7. Introduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Labor Committee

    6/16/2025House

Bill Text

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