Amateur sports the latest frontier in NJ independent contractor fight

Business groups and sports officials are pushing for a law declaring referees and umpires independent contractors amid a broader worker classification fight.

By: Nikita Biryukov

Outlets: New Jersey Monitor

Published: September 14, 2026

Words: 806

Last Updated: 3 days, 19 hours ago


Body Text Preview

Umpires, referees, and other amateur sports officials urged Assembly lawmakers to pass legislation that would exclude them from a state test that weighs whether they are employees or independent contractors.

More than one witness told the Assembly Labor Committee, which did not vote on the bill Monday, that labor regulations set to take effect in October would push them out of the industry, raise costs for school districts and sports leagues, and …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Register for Free Log in