4 New NJ Laws, Fees Start Jan. 1, 2020 That Impact Your Life

NEW JERSEY - Some of you may be shouting "Happy New Year!" because wages are going up. Others may also be grumbling a bit when you go to a store and have to dig into your pockets for more change.

That's because you may find yourself dealing with new laws that, for many New Jerseyans, either cost you more or they'll be adding to your paycheck.

Those laws went into effect on Wednesday, Jan. 1 (see below).

The minimum wage is going up on Wednesday – and putting New Jersey on track to eventually raise it to $15 (just not today). In several communities, however, new plastic bag bans – and subsequent reusable bag fees – also went into effect.

Here's what's new on Wednesday:

Minimum wage hike

The benefits of the minimum wage bill that Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law earlier this year are also starting to kick in.

The minimum-wage base for New Jersey workers increased from $10 to $11-an-hour on Wednesday. It will then increase by $1-an-hour every January 1st until it reaches $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2024.

For seasonal workers and employees at small businesses of five workers or less, the base minimum wage increased on Wednesday from $8.85 an hour to $10.30 an hour.

Restaurant workers also saw an increase from $2.63 an hour to $3.13 an hour, plus tips. The cash wage plus tips must equal the minimum wage.

For agricultural workers, the base minimum wage increased from $8.85 an hour to $10.30 an hour on Wednesday.

“New Jerseyans working full-time deserve fair, livable wages,” said Murphy. “With our second statewide minimum wage increase, we are following through on our commitment to give more workers the opportunity to join the middle class, which will strengthen our economy over the long-term.”

Currently, approximately 192,000 workers in New Jersey make between $10 and $10.99 per hour, according to U.S. Census Bureau Monthly Current Population Survey data, and will therefore directly benefit from the increase, lawmakers said.

Ban on asking for salary history

The new law, which went into effect on Wednesday, prevents employers from asking about workers’ wage and salary histories.

The law is intended to combat gender inequality and promote equal pay for women in New Jersey, which Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver called a "discriminatory practice."

The law, A1094, makes it an unlawful employment practice in New Jersey for any employer to screen a job applicant based on their salary history, including prior wages, salary, commission, benefits or any other current or previous compensation.

The law is designed to ensure that employees receive salaries that are commensurate with their skills, qualifications, and experience, lawmakers say.

Studies have shown that women who hold full-time, year-round jobs in New Jersey are paid 82 cents for every dollar paid to men, according to Oliver.

Under the new law, any employer who attempts to ask or obtain an applicant's salary history will be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second violation and $10,000 for any subsequent violations.

“This bill provides a means of narrowing the wage gap by making it less likely for employers to unintentionally perpetuate the gap by basing salary offers for new hires on their previous salary, which has a disproportionate impact on female hires,”said Assemblywoman Joann Downey.

Plastic bag fees

A number of New Jersey communities banned plastic bags, essentially leaving it up to the stores to decide on alternatives – and, in most cases, you'll have to pay more to get any bag for your groceries.

Those laws, established to help reduce the use of environmentally dangerous platic materials, took effect Wednesday in Asbury Park, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ridgewood, Saddle Brook and South Orange.

Effective Wednesday, an operator of a covered store or a street vendor in Asbury Park may provide a customer with a paper or reusable carryout bag, but they'll pay a minimum fee of 10 cents for each one. Read more: Asbury Park Bans Plastic Bags At Stores (UPDATED)

A borough-wide ban on plastic single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers also went into effect on Jan. 1 in Paramus. Stores may provide paper bags. However, it's up to each individual business whether or not to charge for paper bags.

Ridgewood has a similar rule. Read more: Ridgewood Plastic Bag Ban: What To Know. So does Saddle Brook. Read more: Saddle Brook Plastic Bag Ban: What To Know

In South Orange, paper carry-out bags now have a 5-cent fee

In Paramus, businesses in violation of the ordinance will receive a written warning. Subsequent violations carry financial fines of up to $500. Read more: Paramus Plastic Bag & Styrofoam Ban: What To Know

In Glen Rock, all retail and food service establishments can make reusable bags or recyclable paper bags available to customers for a fee of at least 10 cents. But there is no charge for small paper bags (less than 8" x 16"). Read more: Glen Rock Plastic Bag Ban: What To Know

Making more tax credits available

This law increases the amount of corporation business tax and gross income tax credits available to investors in an emerging New Jersey technology business under the “New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Act.”

This law actually took effect June 30, 2019, but it applies to qualified investments made during privilege periods and tax years beginning on and after Jan. 1, 2020.

“New Jersey is striving to have an innovation economy,” said Andrew Zwicker, D- Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset. “A key component of that economy is financial backing, especially for new businesses looking to be a part of that economy. This law will help make that possible.”