S 4816 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Expands New Jersey's certificate of need exemption list.

This bill (S 4816) expands New Jersey's list of healthcare projects exempt from the state's certificate of need (CON) requirement. It specifically adds two new exemptions for maternity and neonatal care facilities: (1) adding intermediate or intensive bassinets, and (2) increasing the level of neonatal care designation, both without needing prior CON approval regardless of existing neonatal care certification. The bill clarifies that reducing bassinets or decreasing neonatal care levels would **not** be exempt and would still require a CON. These changes directly affect hospitals and maternity facilities seeking to expand or upgrade neonatal services.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Jan 2026

General Assembly Passage

Jan 2026

Governor

Introduced Oct 27, 2025 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Reprint SBA 1/8/26 1R · 7 edits

MODERATE

The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee significantly narrowed the certificate of need (CON) exemptions for maternity services. The original broad exemptions for adding intermediate/intensive bassinets and upgrading neonatal care levels were replaced with a single, specific exemption limited to upgrades from 'community perinatal center-basic' to 'community perinatal center-intermediate.' New provisions add a one-time 25% bassinet increase cap (deadline December 31, 2026) and require the Department of Health to issue a CON call for intensive-level designations within 180 days of a related pending bill's effective date.

SCOPE

The broad exemption allowing any addition of intermediate or intensive bassinets in maternity facilities without a CON was removed.

The broad exemption allowing any increase in neonatal care designation level without a CON was removed.

A narrower exemption was added: only an upgrade from 'community perinatal center-basic' to 'community perinatal center-intermediate' (as defined in N.J.A.C.8:33-1.3) is exempt from the CON requirement.

Additional co-sponsors were added (Senators Johnson, McKnight; Assemblywoman Haider) and new primary sponsors were listed (Assemblyman Greenwald, Assemblywoman Murphy).

REQUIREMENT

New section 12 allows a one-time increase of total bassinets by no more than 25% of licensed bassinets, but only before December 31, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

New section 13 requires the Department of Health to issue a CON call for 'community perinatal center - intensive' designations and addition of intensive bassinets within 180 days of a related pending bill's effective date.

TECHNICAL

New section 14 clarifies that nothing in the related pending bill limits the Department of Health's licensing authority over bassinets.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (66-0-0)

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (70-0-0)

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (39-0)

upper

Jan 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

upper

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Oct 27, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

upper

3 primary · 5 co-sponsors