ISSUESWATCH PODCAST

New Jersey’s Independent Contractor Crackdown

October 20, 2026

Strict new independent contractor classification rules officially went into effect in New Jersey on Oct. 1. NJBIA’s Jack Kelly breaks down what these rules mean for businesses and gig workers, the steep penalties for violations, why the state pushed them forward despite massive opposition, and what legal or legislative avenues remain to fight back.

Topics discussed:

  • Overview of the new rules
  • Penalties for violations
  • The policy and political impetus behind this
  • Why the opposition to the rules was not successful
  • What the Labor Commissioner is saying
  • Independent contractor rules in other states
  • The path forward

Resources:




              Jack Kelly

              Jack Kelly is a policy analyst and registered lobbyist at the New Jersey Business & Industry Association where he specializes in stakeholder engagement, federal agency coordination and policy advocacy. Jack is a former Congressional staffer and is pursuing a Master’s in Government at Johns Hopkins University.
              Jeffrey  Kaszerman

              Jeffrey Kaszerman

              Jeff is the vice president of government relations for the NJCPA. He works with the CEO and the Board of Trustees to create and implement advocacy initiatives that protect and promote the interests of the CPA profession, the business community and the public.

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