This bill seeks to strengthen protections against discrimination for military service members and veterans under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). It explicitly includes "service in the Armed Forces of the United States or liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States" as a protected category, alongside existing categories such as race, creed, color, and gender identity. The bill emphasizes that discrimination against these individuals undermines the principles of a free democratic state and affirms their right to employment and access to public accommodations without discrimination. It also introduces new definitions for terms related to sexual orientation and military service, while clarifying existing definitions to promote inclusivity.

Additionally, the bill revises the responsibilities of the Division on Civil Rights, empowering it to investigate complaints of discrimination based on a broader range of characteristics, including military service. It mandates that employers cannot deny reemployment to individuals who take military leave and prohibits any form of discrimination in housing and financial transactions based on the newly protected categories. The bill also incorporates gender-neutral language and emphasizes that only unlawful discrimination is prohibited, ensuring that practices affecting protected classes are only deemed unlawful if they lack a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest. Overall, the bill aims to create a more inclusive environment by reinforcing and expanding anti-discrimination protections.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10:5-3, 10:5-4, 10:5-5, 10:5-6, 10:5-8, 10:5-9.1, 10:5-12, 10:5-39