This bill amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to enhance protections for individuals serving in the military and military veterans by explicitly adding "service in the Armed Forces of the United States or liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States" to the list of protected categories against discrimination. This inclusion aims to safeguard individuals from bias based on their military service, alongside existing categories such as race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, and nationality. The bill also clarifies that all individuals have the right to obtain employment and access public accommodations without discrimination, reinforcing that these rights are recognized as civil rights.

Additionally, the bill revises the responsibilities of the Attorney General in overseeing the Division on Civil Rights and expands the scope of this division to address complaints related to the newly added military service protections. It introduces provisions to protect employees affected by pregnancy or breastfeeding, prohibits wage disparities based on protected class status, and ensures that individuals cannot be discriminated against in business practices, including real estate transactions. The bill aims to create a more inclusive legal framework that recognizes and protects the rights of diverse groups within the state, particularly emphasizing the rights of military personnel and those affected by pregnancy or breastfeeding.

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