Healthcare

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4190: Codifies certain regulatory provisions regarding controlled dangerous substances and prescription monitoring.

This bill limits initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a five-day supply and requires doctors to consult the state's prescription monitoring program before prescribing. It mandates that doctors discuss addiction risks, overdose dangers, and non-opioid treatment options with patients (or parents/guardians for minors) before starting opioid therapy. For chronic pain treatment lasting over three months, the bill requires regular treatment reviews every three months, dependence assessments, and a formal pain management agreement between the doctor and patient. These changes directly affect healthcare providers who prescribe opioids and patients receiving such prescriptions in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill limits opioid prescriptions, mandates patient education on risks/alternatives, and requires monitoring to prevent addiction, advancing public health safety and patient care in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2697: Prohibits nursing homes from restricting patients from obtaining drugs through prescription drug program offered by federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

This New Jersey bill prohibits nursing homes from blocking patients who use the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) prescription drug program. Nursing homes may not restrict access to VA medications but can require drugs to be dispensed according to their facility's standard policies. It directly affects veterans and eligible patients residing in New Jersey nursing homes who participate in VA drug coverage. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents nursing homes from blocking VA medication access, improving patient access to prescribed drugs under federal healthcare program95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits nursing homes from restricting VA prescription drug access, directly protecting veterans' healthcare benefits and ensuring uninterrupted access to VA medications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3987: Establishes procedures for licensing of certain international medical graduates; repeals R.S.45:9-14.

This bill, the "Expanding Physician Access Act of 2025," creates a new pathway for international medical graduates to obtain a provisional license to practice medicine in New Jersey. It requires the State Board of Medical Examiners to grant provisional licenses to international graduates with a job offer from a New Jersey healthcare facility, provided they meet specific criteria: a recognized medical degree, 5+ years of practice in their home country, English fluency, valid U.S. work authorization, and residency in one of nine specified countries (e.g., Australia, Canada, UK). After a 3-year probationary period, the provisional license automatically converts to a full license, and graduates are not required to stay with their initial employer. The bill repeals an existing licensing section (R.S.45:9-14) and amends current licensing rules to align with these new procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates pathway for international doctors to practice, expanding physician access in New Jersey healthcare facilities per bill title and summary.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFacilitates work authorization for international medical graduates, enabling immigrant professionals to practice in NJ healthcare facilities through state licensing pathway.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Work Authorization

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Mar 9, 2026

A 1352: "Dementia Dignity and Advance Care Planning Act."

This bill creates "Dementia-Specific Advance Directives" (DSADs), allowing New Jersey adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative dementia to formally document their future healthcare preferences while they still have decisional capacity. DSADs must be signed, dated, and witnessed (with one non-relative witness) and specify choices about feeding (including "comfort feeding only" - hand-feeding for comfort, not tubes or IVs), hospitalization, life-prolonging treatments, and triggers for comfort care. The state will establish an electronic registry for DSADs, require healthcare facilities to honor them, provide provider training, and publish annual data on DSAD usage. It directly affects individuals with dementia, their families, and all New Jersey healthcare providers, ensuring their documented wishes guide care during advanced stages.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates DSADs enabling dementia patients to document healthcare preferences, protecting patient autonomy in end-of-life care decisions per bill summary.95% confidence

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

ACR 93: Proposes constitutional amendment to dedicate tax revenue from legal sale of recreational marijuana for mental health, addiction recovery and drug rehabilitation services.

ACR 93 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require all tax revenue from New Jersey's legal recreational marijuana sales to be dedicated exclusively to mental health, addiction recovery, and drug rehabilitation services. If approved by voters, this amendment would mandate that funds collected under the state's marijuana sales tax (per the Sales and Use Tax Act) must be used solely for these specific services and cannot be diverted to other state budget needs. The amendment would become part of the state constitution only after voter approval in a general election.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDedicates marijuana sales tax revenue exclusively to mental health/addiction services, directly funding essential programs per bill's mandate.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds drug rehabilitation services, a key component of criminal justice reform aimed at reducing recidivism and addressing addiction.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDedicates marijuana tax revenue exclusively to mental health/addiction services, directly funding healthcare programs as per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax State Budget Drug Policy Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3274: Establishes Military Suicide Prevention Task Force.

This New Jersey bill creates a 17-member Military Suicide Prevention Task Force within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Department of Human Services. The task force includes military leaders, veterans, mental health experts, and representatives from state agencies, with specific requirements for veteran representation and expertise in areas like PTSD and military sexual trauma. Its key duties are to review military suicide issues, identify evidence-based prevention strategies, recommend state actions (including legislation), and submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature. The task force directly affects active-duty service members, veterans, and state agencies responsible for military and veteran services in New Jersey.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Military Suicide Prevention Task Force focusing on PTSD and military mental health, advancing evidence-based mental health services for veterans.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates task force to address veteran suicide prevention, PTSD, and military sexual trauma through mental health strategies, directly improving veteran healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Benefits Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1926: Upgrades assault on victims who are disabled.

This bill amends New Jersey's assault statute to elevate certain assaults against specific healthcare workers to aggravated assault. It directly affects direct care workers at State or county psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, or veterans' homes who are clearly performing their duties. The key provision (added as subsection b(5)(k)) makes it aggravated assault to intentionally cause bodily injury to these workers while they're identifiable in their roles, increasing penalties. The law does not cover disabled individuals as victims but protects the workers who support them. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for assaulting identifiable healthcare workers in specific facilities, strengthening protections and enhancing accountability within criminal justice sentencing.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare workers in mental health facilities by increasing penalties for assaults against them, strengthening safety for care providers in healthcare settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Mental Health

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

A 2198: Establishes protected leave under "Family Leave Act" and family temporary disability leave benefits for bereavement for death of child, miscarriage, stillbirth, and certain other circumstances.

This New Jersey bill expands protected bereavement leave under the Family Leave Act to cover specific personal losses: death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage (including chemical pregnancy), termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, and failed fertility treatments. It directly affects employees who experience these events, granting them up to 21 days of job-protected leave for situations not covered by other leave types, or 7 days if other leave applies. The bill amends existing laws (P.L.1989, c.261 and P.L.1948, c.110) to define "bereavement" broadly, including losses related to adoption plans, gestational carriers, and fertility treatments. It ensures eligible employees can take time off without losing their jobs or benefits during these difficult circumstances.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands job-protected leave for health-related events (miscarriage, stillbirth, fertility treatments), directly improving employee access to time off for medical circumstances affecting healthcare needs.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands job-protected bereavement leave for covered losses, directly strengthening worker benefits and rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1240: Permits corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer epinephrine auto-injector device.

This bill allows corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers to administer epinephrine auto-injectors (allergy shots) after completing a state-approved training program. It requires these personnel to receive certification to administer, maintain, and dispose of the devices, with training approved by the Commissioner of Health. The law specifically includes county/state corrections officers, firefighters employed or volunteering for public fire departments, and State/county/municipal police officers. This clarifies existing law to explicitly permit these public safety workers to provide emergency allergy treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables first responders to administer life-saving epinephrine during allergic reactions, expanding emergency medical access and aligning with public health safety protocols.95% confidence

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 947: Requires DOH to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures to promote recognition and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.*

This bill (A 947) requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign and develop policies for recognizing and treating perinatal anxiety - a condition affecting approximately 6% of pregnant women and 10% of postpartum women. It mandates that healthcare providers screen all pregnant and postpartum patients for perinatal anxiety during prenatal visits (at least once per trimester), before discharge after birth, and at early postnatal check-ups, using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or an approved alternative. Providers must also give patients and their families clear information about symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment resources. The bill directly affects pregnant and postpartum women, their healthcare providers, and birthing facilities across New Jersey.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates perinatal anxiety screenings and policies, expanding access to mental health services for pregnant/postpartum patients.95% confidence

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