This bill amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on height or weight, adding these characteristics to the list of existing protected categories, which include race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, and disability. The new legal language clarifies that it is unlawful for any person to refuse to engage in business or provide services based on an individual's height or weight, as well as for their family members or associates. The bill also addresses discrimination in contracts, real estate transactions, and employment practices, while allowing for exceptions in cases involving collective bargaining or labor disputes.

In addition to the height and weight provisions, the bill strengthens protections for employees affected by pregnancy or breastfeeding, ensuring reasonable accommodations in the workplace. It also tackles wage disparities by mandating that employers cannot pay members of a protected class less than their counterparts for substantially similar work unless justified by legitimate factors. Overall, the legislation aims to create a more inclusive environment by broadening anti-discrimination measures and aligning New Jersey's laws with those of other states that already recognize height and weight as protected categories.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10:5-3, 10:5-4, 10:5-6, 10:5-8, 10:5-9.1, 10:5-10, 10:5-12, 10:5-12.5