New Jersey lawmakers introduce bill to apologize for slavery and pay reparations to all Black residents

Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and State Senator Angela McKnight introduced the Truth, Reconciliation, and Repair Act of New Jersey, a package that would require the state to issue a formal apology for its history of slavery and to provide direct reparations payments to all Black residents, regardless of ancestry. The proposal is based on a 2025 New Jersey Reparations Council report that outlines a range of measures, from creating a Reparations Bureau to expanding free health care and establishing a guaranteed income for all residents.

Among its financial goals, the bill targets a $642,800 household racial wealth gap through direct cash transfers. While the legislation cites the council’s findings, it leaves open which specific recommendations will be enacted. The bill has yet to receive a legislative hearing, and the sponsors have not responded to comment requests. The state previously issued a symbolic apology in 2008, which the bill seeks to replace with actionable reparations.