A committee of the New Jersey Assembly has recommended passage of a bill that would greatly expand the state's 8-year-old paid family leave program.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee on Monday passed the bill, A4927, in an 8-2 vote, with the committee's lone two Republicans voting no. The bill is sponsored by Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, D-Hudson, and is expected to pass both the full Assembly and the Senate.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie has declined to take a position on the bill. It is being met with resistance by the business and industry community, which has argued that the proposed change may increase operational costs, especially for small business with few employees.