Creates voluntary pilot program to allow certain facilities flexibility in their psychiatric bed status.
This bill establishes a voluntary pilot program allowing licensed psychiatric facilities in New Jersey to temporarily convert certain adult acute beds into adult closed acute beds without changing their official license. Under this program, facilities do not need separate approval from the Department of Health to make these temporary adjustments, and the initiative will last for 24 months unless extended by the state health commissioner. Participating facilities must submit quarterly reports detailing how often and for how long they used this flexibility, and these reports will be made public online. At the end of the pilot period, the health commissioner will review the results and submit a recommendation to the Governor and Legislature on whether to continue or make the program permanent.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
General Assembly Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Jun 4, 2026
Signed Jul 30, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
2
Jun 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Passed Both Houses) (40-0)
upper
Jun 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed by the Assembly (78-0-0)
lower
Jun 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
lower
Jun 15, 2026
Committee
Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
lower
Jun 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Infrastructure Committee
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Joe Vitale
DDemocratic
P
John McKeon
DDemocratic
P
Linda Carter
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about A 5223
Scope: NJ
Hi! I can help you understand A 5223. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline