“With the enhancements to our Angel Investor Tax Credit signed into law by Gov. Murphy, New Jersey now has one of the most progressive and potent tools of any state to encourage investment in early-stage innovative companies,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said in a statement.

Advocates argue the measure will help to close the gender wage gap by taking pay off the table as a factor for hiring,

According to labor officials, the owner of Luigi’s Pizza “immediately wrote a check for the entire back wage amount,” when “faced with the shutdown of his business.”

Fitch Ratings gave an “A” to $325 million in bonds issued by New Jersey that the state plans to sell as it ramps up efforts to start construction on long-awaited infrastructure and public works projects.

“New Jersey’s Hispanic immigrant households spending power is estimated to be $13.8 billion, the sixth-highest in the nation, but it could be greater with increased mobility and independence,” Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey President and CEO Carlos Medina said. "By expanding access to driver’s licenses, you can help more New Jerseyans participate in, and contribute more to, the state’s economy."

Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, which represents thousands of members, had been negotiating the contracts since before Labor Day.

Under the initiative, capped at $1 million, businesses can apply for financing of up to $50,000 for expansions or improvements.

“We are giving New Jersey one of the most progressive expungement laws in the nation, allowing more people to fully participate in our society and our economy,” Gov. Phil Murphy said Dec. 18 at the bill signing ceremony.

A total limit on the tax break programs has been the main roadblock for an agreement between the administration and legislative leadership since the sate's Grow New Jersey and Economic Redevelopment and Growth gap financing initiatives expired in July.

The corporate business tax brought in $108.3 million in November and $1.252 billion of revenue year to date, an uptick of 33.1 percent over last year. But, officials say a slowdown is coming.

The four women will serve in their posts beginning Jan. 2, 2020.

The passage comes amid what many opponents argue is a growing “gig economy,” and an effort by legislative leaders to push through an additional measure that could designate tens of thousands of freelance workers as regular employees.