S 1178 establishes the Office of Disordered Eating Prevention within New Jersey's Department of Health and creates a Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Program. The office must develop annual public resources about disordered eating (defined as irregular eating behaviors that may not meet clinical eating disorder criteria), collaborate with mental health programs, and partner with schools to promote prevention. The grant program provides funding to organizations researching disordered eating causes and prevention strategies, particularly for youth, older residents, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals who face disproportionate impacts. The bill appropriates state funds to implement these provisions, requiring annual reports on the office's activities and grant program outcomes.
This bill authorizes licensed outpatient substance use disorder treatment programs in New Jersey to provide housing to patients receiving treatment, specifically for individuals needing both services. Programs must offer housing through a separate contract requiring patients to acknowledge repayment of housing subsidies, and must inform patients that housing and treatment are independent services not contingent on each other. The bill maintains existing criminal penalties for programs accepting payment for patient referrals while allowing treatment programs to own, lease, or manage housing units under state zoning and safety regulations.
This bill exempts specific oral healthcare products from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects consumers purchasing items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and oral irrigators, and retailers selling these products. The law adds "oral healthcare products for human use" to existing tax exemptions, defining them as items designed to maintain oral health (excluding food, supplements, or medical equipment). This aligns with a multistate tax agreement (SSUTA) that standardizes tax treatment for these products across participating states. The exemption applies to all qualifying products regardless of whether they meet over-the-counter drug definitions.
This bill requires New Jersey hospitals to offer mental health evaluations to patients treated for drug overdoses before discharge. It mandates that all health insurance plans (including individual, group, hospital service, and medical service contracts) cover these evaluations at the same level as other medical treatments. The policy directly affects overdose patients receiving care at licensed acute care hospitals and insurers providing coverage in New Jersey. It applies to all relevant insurance contracts issued or renewed after the bill's effective date.
This bill prohibits pharmacies and businesses with pharmacies on their premises from selling tobacco products (including smokeless tobacco) or electronic smoking devices (like e-cigarettes, vapes, and their parts). It directly affects pharmacy operators and retail businesses hosting pharmacies, while exempting FDA-approved smoking cessation products and medical cannabis dispensaries for registered patients. Violations carry escalating fines ($250 for first offense, $500 for second, $1,000 for third+), with potential disciplinary action from the Board of Pharmacy. The prohibition does not apply to department stores or food retailers (defined as stores where groceries make up ≥65% of sales), which may still operate pharmacies on their premises.
This bill (S 963) requires New Jersey health insurance carriers to provide policyholders with simplified "explanation of benefits" (EOB) forms for every claim. The first page of each form must clearly list the insured's name, provider, service date, claim amount, payments made by the insurer and the patient, and plain-language explanations for payment decisions or denials. It mandates all information be in 12-point font using simple, understandable language - avoiding jargon - consistent with New Jersey's existing insurance policy simplification law. The bill directly affects health insurers (who must implement the changes) and policyholders (who receive clearer, more transparent billing information). If passed, it would take effect 90 days after enactment.
This bill amends New Jersey's assault law to create a new category of "aggravated assault" for attacks on specific professionals. It adds subsection (b)(5) to define aggravated assault when someone commits simple assault (as defined in subsection a) against: teachers, school staff, emergency medical personnel, firefighters, healthcare workers providing direct patient care, or other designated public safety or service workers while they are clearly performing their duties. The law increases penalties for these attacks by classifying them as aggravated assault rather than simple assault. The bill does not specifically target elderly or disabled victims, as the title incorrectly states; it focuses on protecting designated public service workers. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
This bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to deduct up to $120 annually from their gross income for donations of menstrual products (like sanitary napkins, tampons, and cups) made to qualified New Jersey-based charities. To claim the deduction, donors must obtain written proof from the charity documenting each donation, including the product type, quantity, and value. The bill also protects donors and charities from liability for "apparently usable" products (meeting quality standards but not necessarily marketable) donated in good faith, unless gross negligence or intentional misconduct causes harm. It defines qualified charities as those registered in New Jersey, operating within the state, and providing medical or social services to people who menstruate.
This bill establishes a minimum daily reimbursement rate of $950 for pediatric skilled care nursing facilities (SCNFs) participating in New Jersey's Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs. It directly affects facilities providing specialized, long-term care to medically fragile children and youth up to age 21, such as the four currently operating in New Jersey. To qualify for this rate, facilities must comply with state and federal requirements for licensure, patient safety, and care quality. The bill appropriates necessary funds from the General Fund to implement this rate increase and requires the Commissioner of Human Services to seek federal approval for the change.
S 2969 establishes strict privacy protections for sensitive health data in New Jersey, directly affecting residents whose health information is collected within the state and the healthcare providers or entities handling that data. The bill requires explicit, opt-in consent for collecting health data (prohibiting "deceptive designs" or broad terms of service), mandates secure authentication for data requests, and defines "consumer health data" to include medical conditions, genetic information, biometrics, reproductive health details, and location data tied to healthcare visits. It prohibits selling or sharing this data without consent and creates mechanisms for consumers to access or delete their information. The law excludes data used in approved research by institutional review boards, focusing on protecting personal health information from misuse by commercial entities.
