New Jersey · Senate Bill · 221st Legislature
SB4867
New Jersey Senate Bill 4867 — New Jersey Responsible AI Advancement and Workforce Protection Act

Status ● Introduced Effective N/A Passage Likelihood L

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 3 REQUIREMENT TYPES

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
Department of Labor and Workforce Development or the Attorney General may collect penalties for violations of sections 6 and 7 by summary proceeding under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999. The Attorney General separately investigates and enforces complaints related to AI-driven discrimination and unreasonable AI workplace surveillance under the Law Against Discrimination and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act. No private right of action is created by the bill.
Private Right of Action
No private right of action. Enforcement is exclusive to the designated authority.
Penalties
Civil penalty of not less than $1,000 for a first violation and not more than $2,000 for a second or subsequent violation of sections 6 or 7, collected by summary proceeding. Penalties for AI-driven discrimination and workplace surveillance violations are assessed under the Law Against Discrimination (P.L.1945, c.169) and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act (P.L.2004, c.143), which have their own remedy frameworks. Penalties and fees collected are credited to the AI Horizon Fund.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
Section 1
Short title

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New Jersey Responsible AI Advancement and Workforce Protection Act."

Section 1 provides the short title of the act: the "New Jersey Responsible AI Advancement and Workforce Protection Act." This is a naming provision only and creates no compliance obligation.

Section 2
Legislative findings and declarations

(a)–(i) The Legislature finds and declares: a. Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" means the development of software and hardware and the end-use application of technologies that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, including, but not limited to, visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, translation between languages, and generative artificial intelligence, which generates new content in response to user inputs of data.Section 3 (AI) is transforming the economy, the workforce, and people's daily lives. However, innovation without accountability risks leaving residents, workers, communities, and the environment behind. With appropriate policies, New Jersey can lead AI innovation with responsibility, equity, and foresight. b. As AI reshapes the economy, the development of a comprehensive legislative framework can ensure that workers are not casualties of technological progress. Investing in retraining and re-employment pathways for those displaced by AI, developing union-led apprenticeships, and enhancing community college programs will prepare residents of the State for the jobs of tomorrow: jobs that are resilient, dignified, and future-proof. AI businesses and developers will share in this framework by contributing to a training fund to enable these retraining and development programs, and employers deploying AI systems that result in layoffs will be held accountable through mandatory disclosures and additional contributions to this training fund. c. AI computing facilities consume enormous amounts of energy and water, placing additional burdens on existing infrastructure and the taxpayers whose dollars fund that infrastructure. Environmental impact assessments for large-scale AI infrastructure projects help enable development that is sustainable and community-informed. Creating consistent community review processes and developing incentives for clean energy solutions like battery storage, geothermal, and nuclear to power AI help drive sustainability. With these policies, New Jersey can be a model for how states balance technological growth with environmental stewardship and infrastructure resilience. d. AI should serve the public good and not undermine civil rights or privacy. In that regard, high-risk AI systemsHigh-risk AI system"High-risk AI system" means any AI system used in employment, housing, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or public services.Section 3 used in housing, employment, healthcare, and policing will be subject to algorithmic impact assessments before deployment and intrusive surveillance and automated workplace management policies will be subject to further public review and strict limitations. e. Public trust begins with public oversight. Providing the Attorney General with the authority to investigate AI-driven discriminationAI-driven discrimination"AI-driven discrimination" means output resulting from AI systems that exhibit biases against individuals based on age, race, religion, or other protected classes.Section 9 and enforce penalties for civil rights violations will ensure proper oversight in this developing area. f. Local communities should have a voice in decision-making, with community benefit agreementsCommunity benefit agreement"Community benefit agreement" means a comprehensive agreement developed in cooperation between an AI infrastructure entity and an impacted municipality or other political subdivision of the State which provides an environmental and economic impact statement regarding the resources used in the AI implementation and an analysis of the resulting employment and secondary community benefits associated with the AI implementation.Section 3 ensuring that AI uplifts neighborhoods rather than exploiting them. g. AI implementations and their corporate sponsors must disclose their environmental and economic footprint to allow municipalities to negotiate fair terms. Those municipalities should be empowered to shape how AI impacts the community's future, rather than passively accepting corporate development. To assist in this empowerment, funds should be invested directly in community resilience supporting infrastructure, education, and local workforce development. h. Innovation must uplift, not replace the people who built the economy. i. It is therefore an appropriate public purpose to establish an integrated AI strategy for New Jersey that includes incentives for innovation tied to community involvement, responsible funding, worker protections, and sustainable infrastructure usage.

Section 2 sets out legislative findings and declarations explaining the policy rationale for the bill. It identifies concerns about workforce displacement, environmental impact of AI infrastructure, civil rights risks from high-risk AI, and the need for community engagement. This section creates no operative obligations.

Section 3
Definitions

As used in this act: "AI infrastructure entityAI infrastructure entity"AI infrastructure entity" means any company operating large-scale AI computing facilities within this State.Section 3" means any company operating large-scale AI computing facilities within this State. "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" means the development of software and hardware and the end-use application of technologies that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, including, but not limited to, visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, translation between languages, and generative artificial intelligence, which generates new content in response to user inputs of data.Section 3" or "AI" means the development of software and hardware and the end-use application of technologies that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, including, but not limited to, visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, translation between languages, and generative artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" or "AI" means the development of software and hardware and the end-use application of technologies that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, including, but not limited to, visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, translation between languages, and generative artificial intelligence, which generates new content in response to user inputs of data.Section 3, which generates new content in response to user inputs of data. "Community benefit agreementCommunity benefit agreement"Community benefit agreement" means a comprehensive agreement developed in cooperation between an AI infrastructure entity and an impacted municipality or other political subdivision of the State which provides an environmental and economic impact statement regarding the resources used in the AI implementation and an analysis of the resulting employment and secondary community benefits associated with the AI implementation.Section 3" means a comprehensive agreement developed in cooperation between an AI infrastructure entityAI infrastructure entity"AI infrastructure entity" means any company operating large-scale AI computing facilities within this State.Section 3 and an impacted municipality or other political subdivision of the State which provides an environmental and economic impact statement regarding the resources used in the AI implementation and an analysis of the resulting employment and secondary community benefits associated with the AI implementation. "DepartmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. "Gross revenue from AI operationsGross revenue from AI operations"Gross revenue from AI operations" means sales revenue derived from the sale of AI services sourced from AI computing facilities in the State.Section 3" means sales revenue derived from the sale of AI services sourced from AI computing facilities in the State. "High-risk AI systemHigh-risk AI system"High-risk AI system" means any AI system used in employment, housing, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or public services.Section 3" means any AI system used in employment, housing, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or public services.

Section 3 defines key terms used throughout the act, including "AI infrastructure entity," "artificial intelligence," "community benefit agreement," "department," "gross revenue from AI operations," and "high-risk AI system." This is a definitions-only section and creates no operative obligations. All defined terms are captured in the top-level definitions object.

Section 4
Establishment and funding of the AI Horizon Fund
Deployer

(a) There is established in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority a dedicated, nonlapsing, revolving to be known as the AI Horizon Fund, to be managed and invested by the State Treasurer to: (1) support workforce retraining and apprenticeship programs; (2) invest in clean energy upgrades for AI infrastructure; and (3) fund community resilience initiatives in areas impacted by AI-related development.

(b) 1 The fund shall be credited with: (1) contributions from AI infrastructure entities operating in New Jersey, based on a five percent assessment of gross revenue from AI operationsGross revenue from AI operations"Gross revenue from AI operations" means sales revenue derived from the sale of AI services sourced from AI computing facilities in the State.Section 3; (2) penalties and fees collected by the departmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3 pursuant to section 8 of this act; (3) moneys as are appropriated by the Legislature; and (4) any return on investment of moneys deposited in the fund.

Section 4 creates the AI Horizon Fund as a dedicated, nonlapsing, revolving fund within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and managed by the State Treasurer. The fund supports workforce retraining, clean energy upgrades for AI infrastructure, and community resilience initiatives. Subsection (b) specifies the fund's revenue sources, including a 5% assessment on gross revenue from AI operations by AI infrastructure entities operating in New Jersey, collected penalties and fees, legislative appropriations, and investment returns.

Compliance actions 1 item
1
AI infrastructure entities operating in New Jersey must contribute to the AI Horizon Fund based on a 5% assessment of their gross revenue from AI operationsGross revenue from AI operations"Gross revenue from AI operations" means sales revenue derived from the sale of AI services sourced from AI computing facilities in the State.Section 3.
Section 5
Department of Labor workforce protection duties and employer disclosure obligations
DeployerGovernment

(a)(1)–(5) 2 The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall: (1) establish an AI Worker Protection and Economic Adjustment section on its website. That section shall include a list of sectors at risk for AI-driven displacement. The list shall be updated at least quarterly; (2) engage with registered unions to expand training programs specific to job roles within those organizations; (3) engage with community colleges to develop curricula around AI certification; (4) based on the list of at-risk sectors referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection, provide enhanced unemployment benefits of 13 additional weeks for workers displaced by AI; (5) based on the list of at-risk sectors referenced in paragraph (1) of this subsection, develop specific job placement programs for workers displaced by AI;

(a)(6) 3 develop an AI Impact Disclosure that employers deploying AI systems that results in layoffs shall file with the departmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3. This disclosure shall contain, at a minimum, the date on which the AI tool that resulted in layoffs was deployed, the date of layoffs, and the number of workers displaced by the AI tool deployment;

(a)(7) 4 develop a supplemental contribution schedule to the AI Horizon Fund based on the number of layoffs attributable to AI and develop a mechanism for assessment and payment of these assessments.

(b) The disclosure statements and supplemental contributions specified in paragraphs (6) and (7) of subsection a. of this section shall only be applicable to firms which have 100 or more employees.

Section 5 directs the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to take a series of actions: establish a public website section on AI-driven displacement, engage unions and community colleges for training, provide enhanced unemployment benefits for AI-displaced workers, develop job placement programs, and create an AI Impact Disclosure template. Subsection (a)(6) imposes a mandatory employer disclosure obligation: employers deploying AI systems that result in layoffs must file an AI Impact Disclosure with the department. Subsection (a)(7) directs the department to develop a supplemental contribution schedule to the AI Horizon Fund based on AI-driven layoffs. Subsection (b) limits the disclosure and supplemental contribution obligations to firms with 100 or more employees.

Compliance actions 3 items
2
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development must establish an AI Worker Protection and Economic Adjustment section on its website listing sectors at risk for AI-driven displacement (updated at least quarterly), engage unions to expand training programs, engage community colleges to develop AI certification curricula, provide 13 additional weeks of enhanced unemployment benefits for workers displaced by AI, and develop specific job placement programs for AI-displaced workers.
3
Employers with 100 or more employees that deploy AI systems resulting in layoffs must file an AI Impact Disclosure with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The disclosure must contain, at minimum, the date the AI tool was deployed, the date of layoffs, and the number of workers displaced by the AI deployment.
R-02.1
4
Employers with 100 or more employees that lay off workers due to AI deployment must pay supplemental contributions to the AI Horizon Fund based on a schedule developed by the Department of Labor, calculated according to the number of layoffs attributable to AI.
Section 6
AI infrastructure entity environmental and community obligations
Deployer

(a) 5 Each AI infrastructure entityAI infrastructure entity"AI infrastructure entity" means any company operating large-scale AI computing facilities within this State.Section 3 shall, at the time of initial deployment and annually thereafter, in a manner determined by the departmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3: Conduct an environmental impact assessment and provide an additional environmental impact assessment with any capacity expansion, and file the assessment with the departmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3;

(b) 6 Submit annual reports to the departmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3 detailing energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions;

(c) 7 Enter into community benefit agreementsCommunity benefit agreement"Community benefit agreement" means a comprehensive agreement developed in cooperation between an AI infrastructure entity and an impacted municipality or other political subdivision of the State which provides an environmental and economic impact statement regarding the resources used in the AI implementation and an analysis of the resulting employment and secondary community benefits associated with the AI implementation.Section 3 with affected municipalities, and file the agreement with the departmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3.

Section 6 imposes three distinct obligations on AI infrastructure entities: (a) conducting environmental impact assessments at initial deployment and with capacity expansions, filed with the department; (b) submitting annual reports on energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions; and (c) entering community benefit agreements with affected municipalities and filing those agreements with the department. These obligations run at the time of initial deployment and annually thereafter.

Compliance actions 3 items
5
AI infrastructure entities must conduct an environmental impact assessment at the time of initial deployment and annually thereafter, and file the assessment with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. An additional environmental impact assessment must be conducted and filed with any capacity expansion.
R-02.1
6
AI infrastructure entities must submit annual reports to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development detailing energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions.
R-03.1
7
AI infrastructure entities must enter into community benefit agreementsCommunity benefit agreement"Community benefit agreement" means a comprehensive agreement developed in cooperation between an AI infrastructure entity and an impacted municipality or other political subdivision of the State which provides an environmental and economic impact statement regarding the resources used in the AI implementation and an analysis of the resulting employment and secondary community benefits associated with the AI implementation.Section 3 with affected municipalities at the time of initial deployment and file the agreements with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Community benefit agreementsCommunity benefit agreement"Community benefit agreement" means a comprehensive agreement developed in cooperation between an AI infrastructure entity and an impacted municipality or other political subdivision of the State which provides an environmental and economic impact statement regarding the resources used in the AI implementation and an analysis of the resulting employment and secondary community benefits associated with the AI implementation.Section 3 must provide an environmental and economic impact statement regarding the resources used in the AI implementation and an analysis of resulting employment and secondary community benefits.
Section 7
High-risk AI system requirements
Deployer

(a) 8 High-risk AI systemsHigh-risk AI system"High-risk AI system" means any AI system used in employment, housing, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or public services.Section 3 implemented in New Jersey shall: Undergo algorithmic impact assessments prior to deployment. The Office of Information Technology in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury, shall perform the impact assessments, in a manner to be determined by the Office of Information Technology.

(b) 9 Be subject to ethical use and transparency requirements pursuant to P.L.2023, c.266 (C.56:8-166.4 et seq.).

Section 7 imposes two obligations on high-risk AI systems implemented in New Jersey. Subsection (a) requires algorithmic impact assessments prior to deployment, to be performed by the Office of Information Technology. Subsection (b) subjects high-risk AI systems to existing ethical use and transparency requirements under P.L.2023, c.266. The definition of high-risk AI system is notably broad, covering any AI system used in employment, housing, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or public services.

Compliance actions 1 item
8
High-risk AI systemsHigh-risk AI system"High-risk AI system" means any AI system used in employment, housing, healthcare, education, criminal justice, or public services.Section 3 implemented in New Jersey must undergo algorithmic impact assessments prior to deployment. The assessments are performed by the Office of Information Technology in a manner to be determined by that office.
H-02.3
Section 8
Penalties for violations of sections 6 and 7

Any person violating any of the provisions of sections 6 or 7 of this act shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $1,000 for a first violation and not more than $2,000 for a second or subsequent violation, to be collected in a civil action by a summary proceeding brought by the departmentDepartment"Department" means the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.Section 3 or the Attorney General under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

Section 8 establishes civil penalties for violations of sections 6 (environmental/community obligations) and 7 (high-risk AI system requirements). Penalties range from not less than $1,000 for a first violation to not more than $2,000 for subsequent violations, collected by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development or the Attorney General under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999. This is a pure enforcement provision and creates no independent compliance obligation.

Section 9
Attorney General investigation and enforcement of AI-driven discrimination and workplace surveillance
Deployer

(a) 10 The Office of the Attorney General shall investigate complaints related to AI-driven discriminationAI-driven discrimination"AI-driven discrimination" means output resulting from AI systems that exhibit biases against individuals based on age, race, religion, or other protected classes.Section 9, unreasonable AI workplace surveillanceAI workplace surveillance"AI workplace surveillance" means the use of AI to monitor and analyze employee behavior and performance through the use of technology tools that track employee activities including computer usage and physical movements.Section 9, and claims of violations of civil rights protections related to AI. The Attorney General shall enforce penalties pursuant to the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.), and the "New Jersey Civil Rights Act," P.L.2004, c.143 (C.10:6-1 et seq.) for violations of this section.

(b) As used in this section: "AI-driven discriminationAI-driven discrimination"AI-driven discrimination" means output resulting from AI systems that exhibit biases against individuals based on age, race, religion, or other protected classes.Section 9" means output resulting from AI systems that exhibit biases against individuals based on age, race, religion, or other protected classes. "AI workplace surveillanceAI workplace surveillance"AI workplace surveillance" means the use of AI to monitor and analyze employee behavior and performance through the use of technology tools that track employee activities including computer usage and physical movements.Section 9" means the use of AI to monitor and analyze employee behavior and performance through the use of technology tools that track employee activities including computer usage and physical movements.

Section 9 empowers the Office of the Attorney General to investigate complaints related to AI-driven discrimination, unreasonable AI workplace surveillance, and AI-related civil rights violations. Enforcement proceeds under the Law Against Discrimination and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act. The section also defines "AI-driven discrimination" and "AI workplace surveillance" for purposes of this provision. While this section principally establishes enforcement authority, it also implicitly prohibits AI-driven discrimination and unreasonable AI workplace surveillance — violations trigger investigation and penalties.

Compliance actions 1 item
10
Deployers of AI systems must not produce AI-driven discriminationAI-driven discrimination"AI-driven discrimination" means output resulting from AI systems that exhibit biases against individuals based on age, race, religion, or other protected classes.Section 9 — output exhibiting biases against individuals based on age, race, religion, or other protected classes. Deployers must not engage in unreasonable AI workplace surveillanceAI workplace surveillance"AI workplace surveillance" means the use of AI to monitor and analyze employee behavior and performance through the use of technology tools that track employee activities including computer usage and physical movements.Section 9 — using AI to monitor and analyze employee behavior and performance through tracking employee activities including computer usage and physical movements. The Attorney General may investigate complaints and enforce penalties under the Law Against Discrimination and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act.
H-02.1
Section 10
Effective date

This act shall take effect 180 days after enactment, except that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the Attorney General may take any anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

Section 10 provides that the act takes effect 180 days after enactment, with authority for the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the Attorney General to take anticipatory administrative action in advance of the effective date as necessary for implementation.

Passage Likelihood

Low
Status Introduced
Chamber No passage
Committee No action
Majority party Yes
Bipartisan No
Prior session None

Legislative History

2025-11-13 Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-05-20
AI generated