TRENTON -- New Jersey may soon join New York in what's becoming a nationwide fight to ban employers from asking you about your salary history, according to state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen).
Massachusetts, New York City and Philadelphia have all passed laws that block potential employers from inquiring about how much you made at previous jobs.
California, Mississippi and Pennsylvania, have proposed similar legislation this year -- and now New Jersey may, too.
"We'll have to look at it again," said Weinberg, noting that such measures are aimed at closing the gender gap that has left female employees underpaid relative to their male counterparts doing comparable work.
Weinberg had introduce her own salary history inquiry ban bill in September 2016 with (S-2536) along with state Sen. Nia H. Gill (D-Essex).
Massachusetts's law is set to go into effect in July of 2018. New York City's ban takes effect in November.
Weinberg noted that Democrats are also getting close on a deal with legislative Republicans on an altogether separate bill that focuses on requiring equal pay for men and women doing comparable work.
"We're getting close to a compromise," she said on Thursday morning.
In January, the Senate failed to override Gov. Chris Christie's veto of legislation (S-992) that would revise the legal remedies for wage discrimination experienced by women in the workplace.
Christie had vetoed the bill last May saying it went beyond federal standards and would make New Jersey "very business unfriendly."
Like the pay equity bill, the bill seeking salary history ban would not move forward without opposition.
In April, the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia sued the city over its ban arguing that it violates employers' free speech rights and makes it harder for companies to set wages and attract top talent.
The lawsuit also claims employers need to use wage history to identify which job applicants it can afford and to determine the comparable salary for a certain job.
Philadelphia's ban was supposed to go into effect May 23, but a judge has temporarily halted it due to the chamber's lawsuit.
Under New York's law, employers that violate it can be fined as much as $250,000. In Philadelphia, it's $2,000 per violation, plus 90 days in jail for repeat offenses.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.