NJ A5048

Expands New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly protect current military service members and veterans, in addition to the existing protection for those "liable for service" in the Armed Forces

Defines the new protected class as persons in active service in any branch of the Armed Forces or National Guard, and those who have been discharged or released from such service

Makes it an unlawful employment practice for employers to deny reemployment to employees who take leave for military service, aligning with federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act requirements

Updates gendered language throughout the Law Against Discrimination to gender-neutral terms (e.g., replacing "soldier, sailor, marine, airman, nurse or army field clerk" with "enlisted person or officer")

Adds clarifying language that the law prohibits only "unlawful discrimination" to distinguish from discrimination that may be legally permissible under certain circumstances