New Jersey Updates Captive Audience Meeting Law
Beginning December 2, 2025, New Jersey's law that prohibits captive audience meetings and communications will be updated to define political matters more broadly, add new exceptions, and require that employers provide employees with a notice of their rights. The law applies to employers of all sizes. Below are key details of the changes.
Expanded Definition of Political Matters
The definition of political matters will be expanded to include communications expressing support for, or opposition to, a candidate, public question, or referendum made within:
30 days of a primary election.
60 days of a wide variety of elections-including local elections, such as for school boards.
We don't know whether this would, for instance, prohibit the sending of a company-wide email supporting a candidate if the email didn't indicate that it had to be read or else the employee would be disciplined, or whether it would be illegal to send that kind of email by virtue of the expectation that employees will read all company-distributed emails.
New Exceptions
The updated law adds several new exceptions that are more or less common sense. For instance, a communication is not illegal if required by law or is necessary for employees to perform their job.
Notice
Employers must post a notice about these rights in a location frequented by employees and where notices are typically posted. New Jersey hasn't indicated whether it will make a template notice available.
Action Item:
Post the required notice where other employee notices are displayed.