Effective Jan. 1, 2020, legislation has been signed that prohibits employers from requesting or relying on a job applicant’s salary history in hiring and pay-setting decisions. Signed by Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver (acting on behalf of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy), A.B. 1094 follows New Jersey’s passage of the New Jersey Equal Pay Act, which precludes an employer from paying an employee of any protected class at a lower rate than other employees with similar job duties, unless a legitimate business reason exists. The new salary history ban bars employers from screening job candidates based on wage, salary, and benefits history or requiring a salary history satisfy any minimum or maximum criteria. Although some exceptions do apply, employers in violation of the salary history ban face fines of up to $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 for the first, second and third violations.