Healthcare

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

A 3106: Establishes requirements for State to enter into contract for purchase of menstrual products.

This bill (A 3106) requires New Jersey's Director of Purchase and Property to review state purchasing practices for menstrual products and establish a centralized contract to reduce costs for state agencies. It mandates that the director, at a state department's request, advertise for and award a statewide contract for menstrual products (including pads, tampons, and cups), making it available to all state agencies and cooperative purchasing participants like schools and local governments. Non-profits may also purchase under this contract at the director’s discretion, subject to reporting requirements. The bill focuses solely on streamlining state procurement, not on providing free products to individuals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates statewide contracts for menstrual products in state agencies/schools, improving access to essential health supplies as part of public health initiatives.90% confidence

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

A 3140: Requires school districts to provide instruction on risks of compulsive gambling as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

This bill requires New Jersey public school districts with grades 9-12 to include lessons on compulsive gambling risks within their required health education curriculum. The instruction must cover gambling addiction dangers, financial risks, and probability concepts. The state education commissioner will provide sample lesson materials and develop teacher training on identifying gambling issues and treatment resources. Implementation begins the school year after the next state curriculum review, not immediately.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new health curriculum content on gambling risks for grades 9-12, expanding educational coverage of health topics per NJ standards.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates gambling addiction education in health curriculum with treatment resources, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare topic.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers Substance Abuse

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3480: Establishes Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services.

S 3480 establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services within the Department of the Treasury (though separate from department oversight) to directly support individuals with mental illness and addiction. The Governor will appoint a qualified Ombudsman to help people find treatment, ensure proper care in facilities, provide confidential counseling and job guidance, and educate about substance use disorders. The Ombudsman must keep communications confidential and issue annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and Human Services Commissioner, summarizing services and recommending improvements to state mental health and addiction programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates independent ombudsman office to directly support mental health/addiction services, advancing patient access and care coordination per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

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

A 4259: Establishes "Support for Students Exposed to Domestic Violence Fund" in DOE to support public schools in addressing impact of domestic violence.

This bill creates a permanent "Support for Students Exposed to Domestic Violence Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Education. The fund provides financial support to public schools for three specific purposes: (1) school-based therapy and trauma-informed mental health services for students impacted by domestic violence, (2) identifying resources to address unmet needs of these students, and (3) funding staff training and employment for mental health personnel. The Department of Education will administer the fund, allocate money to schools based on its own methodology, and require schools to report how funds are used. This policy directly affects public schools and students exposed to domestic violence across New Jersey.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates permanent fund within DOE budget to directly fund school-based mental health services for vulnerable students, advancing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates fund for school-based mental health services, directly funding student support programs within K-12 schools under DOE.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds school-based mental health services and trauma-informed care for students impacted by domestic violence, directly advancing mental health support under healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 3634: Permits greater diversity in creation of new health sharing ministries and establishes and exempts certain mandates and reporting requirements.

This bill updates New Jersey's regulations for health care sharing ministries (HCSMs), which are organizations where members share medical costs based on common ethical or religious beliefs. It replaces the federal requirement that HCSMs must have operated since 1999 with new rules: HCSMs must now conduct annual independent audits and publicly share the results. The bill also mandates that HCSMs post specific annual data on their websites, including the number of New Jersey residents, households, and employer groups they serve, as well as any health care provider contracts in the state. These provisions aim to increase transparency and address concerns about the current system being exploited by some new organizations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill permits greater diversity in health sharing ministries (HCSMs), expanding alternative healthcare coverage options while adding transparency requirements, advancing patient choice in coverage models.92% confidence

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

A 2039: Requires Division of Developmental Disabilities to make comprehensive list of its programs available to public.

This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to create and maintain a publicly accessible list of all its programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The list must include detailed descriptions of each program (like home-based supports, group homes, and self-directed services), eligibility requirements (including Medicaid needs and care level assessments), and information on transitional planning and guardianship. DDD must post this list on its website, provide it in print upon request, and update it regularly to reflect current offerings. It also mandates that DDD promote webinars or presentations to help people access these services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires public listing of developmental disability programs including Medicaid eligibility, improving access to healthcare services for individuals with disabilities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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

A 3007: Permits tax credit against gross income tax for certain adoption expenses.

This bill provides New Jersey taxpayers adopting foster children with a credit against their state gross income tax for eligible adoption expenses. The credit covers medical, therapeutic, and counseling costs for "special needs" children and lasts until the child turns 18 (or 21 with special education needs), or for life if the child has a severe disability certified by state disability directors. It directly affects adoptive parents of foster children who qualify as "special needs" under state definitions. The credit applies annually to taxable years beginning after January 1, 2008, and requires the Division of Taxation to create implementing rules. The bill is pending in the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit reducing liability for adoptive parents of special needs children, offering tax relief aligned with middle-income support.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly covers medical, therapeutic, and counseling costs for special needs children, directly expanding healthcare access through tax credit for healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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passed · New Jersey · General Assembly May 4, 2026

A 2195: Directs DOH to develop guidelines for school districts and institutions of higher education concerning student vaping awareness campaigns.*

This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DOE) to create and distribute annual guidelines for school districts and colleges. The guidelines must include research-backed materials on vaping's health risks (lung effects, mental health, comparison to smoking, dangers to pregnant people and children), age-appropriate anti-vaping campaigns, decision-making tools to resist peer pressure, and promotional materials for students from middle school through college. Schools and colleges must use these guidelines to implement campus anti-vaping programs. The DOH and DOE will update the guidelines yearly and post them online with additional resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires DOE/DOH to create anti-vaping guidelines for schools, enhancing student health education programs through research-backed materials and age-appropriate campaigns.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health risk education on vaping's effects, including mental health, to prevent harm and promote student health awareness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Mental Health

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

A 1631: Establishes pilot program providing NJ FamilyCare eligibility for children with special needs who would otherwise be ineligible due to parental income and assets, and requires DHS commissioner to conduct study.

This bill (A1631) establishes a 3-year pilot program to expand NJ FamilyCare eligibility for children with special needs who live at home but would otherwise be ineligible due to parental income or assets. It directly affects middle-income families caring for children under 21 who meet the federal SSI definition of "blind or disabled" but are denied benefits because their parents' income or assets exceed limits. The program requires annual reviews to confirm the child still meets the disability definition, with an appeals process if benefits are terminated. After the pilot, the state must report on participation, costs, and whether to make the program permanent. The bill does not change existing Medicaid rules for children requiring nursing-home-level care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands NJ FamilyCare eligibility for children with special needs denied due to parental income, increasing healthcare access for vulnerable children.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3321: Requires DHS to implement payment strategy to encourage the use of long acting reversible contraceptives.

This bill (S 3321) requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a Medicaid payment strategy that improves access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as IUDs and implants, for Medicaid clients. It mandates specific actions: ensuring comprehensive coverage for LARCs, separately reimbursing for immediate postpartum insertion, removing supply chain barriers, and eliminating administrative hurdles for providers. The strategy must be implemented by all Medicaid health insurers (managed care organizations) serving low-income women. The bill aims to address existing reimbursement gaps that limit LARC use, which the CDC identifies as highly effective contraception with very low pregnancy rates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid coverage expansion for LARCs, removing access barriers - directly advances reproductive healthcare access under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Women's Health

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