Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1765: Requires Medicaid coverage for community violence prevention services; establishes training and certification program for violence prevention professionals.

This bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover community violence prevention services for eligible recipients. It adds these services to Medicaid coverage under existing "preventative and rehabilitative services" (Section 12 of the amended law), directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries and violence prevention providers. The bill also establishes a state training and certification program for professionals working in violence prevention. This creates a new pathway for Medicaid reimbursement for evidence-based community violence intervention programs. The legislation is currently pending in the Senate Health Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage to include community violence prevention services, directly advancing healthcare access under preventative/rehabilitative services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2685: Requires school districts to provide instruction on menstrual health and hygiene as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

S 2685 requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on menstrual health and hygiene for students in grades 4-12 as part of their health and physical education curriculum. The bill mandates teaching about proper use of menstrual products (including risks like Toxic Shock Syndrome), symptoms of menstrual disorders, effects of period poverty, and when to seek medical help. Schools must notify parents before starting this instruction, and the law takes effect for the first full school year after enactment. This directly affects all New Jersey public school districts and their students in the specified grade range.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mandatory menstrual health education in K-12 curriculum, expanding health education standards to address student health needs and access.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates menstrual health education covering product safety, disorders, and medical access, advancing public health education under healthcare policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2341: Requires physicians and certain hospital employees to complete training on communication with and treatment of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

This bill requires physicians to complete one hour of ongoing training on communicating with and treating deaf or hard of hearing patients as part of their medical license renewal. It also mandates that hospital emergency departments develop specific training protocols for staff interacting with deaf or hard of hearing patients. The Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing will create a dedicated training unit to develop and administer these programs. The law applies directly to licensed physicians and emergency department staff in New Jersey hospitals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates physician/hospital staff training to improve communication and treatment for deaf/hard of hearing patients, enhancing healthcare access and patient rights as per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2495: Establishes New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council in DHS.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council within the Department of Human Services. The council will collect and analyze non-personal data on suicide attempts and completions from all suicide prevention organizations across the state, including details like age, gender, race, method, and mental health history. It will develop standardized reporting requirements for these organizations and provide guidance on best practices for suicide prevention materials and programs. The council will include state agency representatives and appointed members with mental health expertise, including survivors of suicide, to coordinate statewide efforts and improve data-driven prevention strategies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes suicide prevention council to standardize data collection and develop best practices, strengthening mental health services within healthcare framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2941: Requires DOH to develop shared decision-making tool and establish maternal health care pilot program.

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a voluntary shared decision-making tool for maternity care hospitals and birthing centers. The tool provides standardized patient questionnaires, educational materials on birth options and risks (like cesarean sections), and resources to help patients collaborate with providers on care choices and develop birth plans. A three-year pilot program will test the tool at selected facilities across the state, tracking specific outcomes like rates of non-medically indicated inductions and cesarean sections. Participating facilities must report findings to the DOH, Governor, and Legislature after the pilot to inform potential statewide implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires DOH to develop shared decision-making tool for maternal care, improving patient-provider collaboration and birth planning access per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 3138: Establishes "Gambling Treatment Diversion Court Pilot Program" within the criminal justice system.

This bill establishes a pilot program in New Jersey's criminal justice system for individuals convicted of crimes related to gambling disorders. It targets people with disordered gambling who committed offenses "in furtherance of or because of" their gambling, requiring them to complete treatment and pay restitution before sentencing. The program mandates participation in counseling, education, and referrals through qualified mental health professionals, with costs covered by participants where possible or through state/federal funding. A court coordinator will track progress, including treatment attendance and financial restitution, to ensure program completion.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDiverts gambling-related offenders to treatment instead of standard sentencing, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health treatment via court program for gambling disorders, advancing access to services through qualified professionals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing Victims' Rights Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2581: Establishes "Recovery Tax Credit Program"; incentivizes hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.

S 2581 establishes a tax credit program in New Jersey to incentivize employers to hire and retain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder. Employers must become "certified" by partnering with treatment providers, offering qualifying health insurance, and meeting other criteria to qualify for the program. Certified employers can claim a tax credit of $1 per hour worked by eligible employees, up to $2,000 per employee annually, for part-time or full-time employment. The program, administered by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, allocates up to $2 million yearly and requires employers to verify employee eligibility and recovery status. This bill directly affects New Jersey employers seeking tax incentives and individuals with substance use disorder seeking stable employment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit ($1/hr up to $2k/employee) for employers hiring recovery individuals, reducing tax liability to incentivize employment - fiscal support via tax relief for workforce development.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires qualifying health insurance for employer certification, directly incentivizing expanded health coverage for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncentivizes hiring/retention of individuals in recovery through tax credits, directly advancing employment opportunities for vulnerable workers under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 767: Establishes Children's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

This bill establishes a statewide system for reporting vaccine side effects in children under 19. It requires health care providers (including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and emergency staff) to report any adverse event occurring within eight weeks of a child's vaccination, regardless of whether they believe the vaccine caused it. The system, managed by the New Jersey Department of Health, collects specific details like the child's information, vaccine type, and event description. Reports not already mandated by federal law must also be sent to the national VAERS system. This directly affects children receiving vaccines and the health care providers who administer them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mandatory reporting system for pediatric vaccine adverse events, enhancing public health monitoring and safety oversight under NJ Department of Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1102: Requires health benefits coverage of continuous glucose monitoring system for treatment of glycogen storage disease.

This bill (S 1102) requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey - covering hospital services, medical expenses, individual policies, group plans, and health maintenance organizations - to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitoring systems when prescribed by a healthcare provider for treating glycogen storage disease. It applies to all new or renewed insurance contracts on or after the bill's effective date, mandating coverage "to the same extent as for any other medical condition." The law directly affects patients with glycogen storage disease who rely on these monitoring systems and insurers who must now include this coverage without additional cost-sharing. It does not change existing coverage standards for other conditions but ensures consistent access to this specific treatment tool.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for glucose monitoring systems treating glycogen storage disease, expanding patient access to necessary medical devices under all insurance plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2793: Establishes three-year pilot program for school-based mentoring in public schools located within 1,000 feet of gunfire.

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program for school-based mentoring in New Jersey public schools located within 1,000 feet of where gunfire occurred in the prior school year (a "crisis zone"). It directly affects kindergarten through third-grade students at risk for mental health issues or substance abuse, targeting improvements in their emotional resilience, social skills, and behavior. The program requires participating schools to use a weekly, 25-minute one-on-one mentoring curriculum focused on monitoring emotions, building coping skills, and maintaining emotional control, with schools selecting mentors and evaluating student progress at three intervals. After the pilot, the Commissioner of Education must report on whether the program could be expanded statewide.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mentoring program for K-3 students in crisis zones to improve emotional resilience and social skills, directly enhancing student support programs in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill targets mental health issues in at-risk students via school-based mentoring program, directly supporting mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Mental Health Substance Abuse

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