If you are (or use) an independent contractor of any type within NJ... I hope you've been following the issue of bill S4204 proposed by Steve Sweeney which seeks to codify a new, narrower definition of "independent contractor".
In a nutshell, (my opinion here) this was generated primarily because of these app-based businesses like Uber. The NJ Dept of Labor recently assessed a $649M fine against Uber for classifying it's drivers as contractors rather than employees - Uber is fighting it. But, I believe this push is not out of "concern for workers" as it's been presented, but is more about greed - a grossly inefficient, overspending state anxiously trying to capture additional revenue, as well as greedy unions who want dues from additional members.
Here's the problem... whether intentions were noble or, as I believe, just plain greedy... the law seems likely to have sweeping unintended consequences. For instance, large employers might just say - you know what? NJ is just too much of a pain in the ass to deal with. We're not going to hire any more freelancers who live in NJ. Lest you think that's crazy talk, California passed a similar but even stricter law - and sure enough - several large companies that use contractors (for instance, a big transcription company) just simply dropped all California freelancers from their rolls! The opposition to this bill is growing and varied - coming from individual freelancers, groups that represent them, Chambers of Commerce, AAA (whose roadside services are contracted), the trucking industry, etc.
If you're a small business that hires contractors, these kinds of laws can complicate your life immeasurably - and you could end up being forced to hire people as employees who you actually only use a handful of times a year for specialty work. (Like a general contractor who brings in a mason to build chimneys on his projects, etc.)
They just held a hearing on the bill, and there was FOUR hours of pissed off testimony mostly from freelancers and small business owners. Apparently, Sweeney's response is to re-do the bill to carve out more "exemptions". It seems to me if you get this much push back, and have to carve out a ton of exemptions... perhaps the law is just a dumb idea to begin with? Personally, I think our state has run up so much debt, and is so desperate for money, we'll be seeing all kinds of overreaching "money grabs" like this in the coming years.
As a freelance writer, I've been following the issue, but I think there may be others on here who would be impacted if this passed... and I couldn't find another thread on it, so I just wanted to alert you. I've included several links if you want to investigate further. This is an open issue - I don't think it's going away anytime soon!
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/proposed-new-jersey-legislation-threatens-independent-contractors
https://reason.com/2019/11/21/new-jersey-takes-a-swipe-at-the-gig-economy-with-new-independent-contractor-bill/
https://www.njspotlight.com/2019/11/revamping-nj-labor-law-to-protect-workers-in-gig-economy-boost-state-taxes/
https://www.nfib.com/content/nfib-in-my-state/new-jersey/nj-independent-contractor-bill-to-create-turmoil-for-small-biz/