Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 16, 2026

A 4706: Mandates health insurance coverage for supervisory billing for behavioral health services.

This bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover and reimburse for services provided by mental health professionals who hold provisional licenses and work under the supervision of a fully licensed professional. It specifically prohibits insurance companies from denying claims solely because the provider is provisionally licensed, ensuring that individuals can access care from these supervised professionals. The law applies to major insurance programs including the State Health Benefits Program, School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and State Medicaid program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for behavioral health services by provisional licensees, expanding access to mental health care and protecting patient rights to receive supervised professional services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 3765: Requires DHS to request approval from federal government to provide rental assistance benefits to certain NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries.

This bill directs New Jersey's Department of Human Services to seek federal approval to offer rental assistance to specific NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries for up to six months. The program would target individuals who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or transitioning out of emergency shelters and who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness or substance use disorder. If approved, the state would issue financial assistance vouchers or subsidies directly to housing providers to help eligible recipients secure or maintain housing. The bill also requires the state to adopt new rules and regulations to implement the program once federal permission is granted.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands healthcare support by providing rental assistance to NJ FamilyCare beneficiaries with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, improving housing stability for vulnerable populations.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides rental assistance to homeless individuals with serious mental illness or substance use disorder, directly supporting affordable housing and homelessness prevention efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Homelessness Renters

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SJR 102: Designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey.

This bill designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey to honor the birthday of Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, an inventor who created an early menstrual hygiene product. The resolution calls on the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials, organizations, and citizens to observe the day with awareness activities and programs. The legislation aims to promote menstrual health, reduce stigma, and recognize Kenner's contributions to menstrual product innovation. This is a symbolic measure that does not change laws or allocate funding but establishes an annual observance date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes menstrual health awareness and reduces stigma, indirectly supporting healthcare access and patient well-being75% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4034: Appropriates $10 million to Department of Treasury for nurse preceptor tax credits.

This bill creates a state tax credit for healthcare professionals who supervise nursing students in clinical training programs. Eligible preceptors, including advanced practice nurses, physicians, and physician assistants, can claim up to $1,000 for each student they primarily supervise, provided they complete at least 100 clinical hours of instruction during the tax year. The program is funded through a $10 million annual appropriation to the Department of Treasury and includes administrative rules for verifying student supervision through nursing school certification forms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $10M for nurse preceptor tax credits, funding healthcare education programs and providing tax relief to healthcare professionals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides $10M funding for nurse preceptor tax credits, strengthening healthcare workforce development and clinical training programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides tax credits to healthcare professionals supervising nursing students, supporting workforce development and employment in healthcare sector.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Tax Credits Healthcare Workforce Professional Licensing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4591: Permits school districts to define excused absences from school to include illness based on student's mental or behavioral health and requires Commissioner of Education to develop guidelines for defining excused absence for this reason.

This bill allows New Jersey school districts to count absences due to a student's mental or behavioral health issues as excused absences. It requires the state Commissioner of Education to work with the Commissioner of Health to create guidelines that define what counts as an excused absence for these health reasons and what documentation schools may need when students return. The policy changes would apply starting the first day of the second full school year after the bill is enacted, giving the state time to prepare administrative rules. Students with mental or behavioral health challenges would gain flexibility in their attendance records, while schools would have a standardized framework to verify these absences.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing mental health-related absences to be excused, reducing stigma and supporting student well-being.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands mental health support by allowing excused absences for mental/behavioral health issues, improving access to care and reducing stigma in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4602: Requires State Board of Education to include instruction on mental health first aid training as part of professional development requirement for public school teachers.

This bill requires public school teachers in New Jersey to complete eight hours of mental health first aid training during their first year of employment and recertify every three years. The training covers identifying signs of mental health and substance use disorders, understanding risk factors, and learning intervention strategies for both crisis and non-crisis situations. It directly affects all public school teachers by making this instruction a mandatory part of their professional development requirements. The State Board of Education must implement these training requirements as part of existing professional development standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates mental health first aid training for teachers, enhancing student support and teacher preparedness in public schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health first aid training for teachers, directly advancing mental health awareness and support in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 10, 2026

A 4550: Requires health benefits coverage for buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone for pain treatment without step therapy or fail-first protocols.

This bill requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover the prescription and purchase of buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone for pain treatment without using step therapy or fail-first protocols. It applies to various types of insurance contracts, including hospital service, medical service, and health service corporation plans, as well as individual and group health insurance policies. The law ensures that people with these insurance plans can access these medications directly without first trying other treatments or meeting additional requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for buprenorphine without step therapy, improving patient access to pain treatment medications and strengthening healthcare benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 3965: Repeals law that revises coverage for certain immunizations and reference to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

This bill in New Jersey repeals a 2025 law that required health insurers and the Medicaid program to cover certain immunizations without cost sharing. The repealed law mandated that these entities follow immunization recommendations from the New Jersey Department of Health, which previously considered guidance from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and other medical organizations. By removing this law, the bill eliminates the requirement for insurers to cover immunizations based on state department recommendations and restores references to the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in related statutes. The change directly affects health insurance providers, Medicaid, and individuals who rely on these coverage provisions for vaccine expenses.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill repeals law requiring insurers to cover immunizations without cost sharing, restricting health coverage and limiting patient access to vaccines95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3514: Establishes timelines for application review process for certain credentials issued by New Jersey Board of Nursing.

This bill establishes specific timelines for the New Jersey Board of Nursing to review applications for certain nursing credentials, aiming to create a more predictable process for applicants. It directly affects nurses seeking licensure or credential renewal in New Jersey by setting deadlines for how long the board has to evaluate their applications. The key provision requires the board to complete its review process within defined timeframes, though the bill does not specify the exact number of days for each stage. This change is intended to improve transparency and efficiency in the credentialing process without altering the qualifications or duties of board members.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves administrative efficiency for nursing credentialing, enhancing access to healthcare professionals and streamlining licensure processes.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SJR 118: Designates first week of May of each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week."

This bill designates the first week of May each year as "Children's Mental Health Awareness Week" in New Jersey to promote public understanding of mental health issues affecting children. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs. This symbolic measure aims to raise awareness about the importance of addressing mental health challenges in young people, though it does not allocate funding or mandate specific policy changes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes awareness of children's mental health, aligning with mental health services support indicators85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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