Healthcare

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

A 1937: Requires health insurance companies to cover lead screenings for children 16 years of age or younger.

This bill requires health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover lead screenings for all children 16 years of age or younger. It mandates that healthcare providers (including doctors, nurses, and facilities serving children) perform these screenings unless parents object in writing, and follow up with families if elevated lead levels are detected. The Department of Health must establish regulations based on CDC guidelines, including screening schedules, follow-up protocols, and public education campaigns about lead poisoning risks. The law directly affects children under 16, their families, healthcare providers, and health insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for pediatric lead screenings, expanding preventive care access and aligning with CDC public health guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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

A 895: Requires parents and guardians be provided access to medical records of minor patients; provides immunity to health care facilities and professionals that provide access to records.

This bill requires healthcare providers in New Jersey to give parents or legal guardians access to medical records of minor patients related to reproductive health services permitted under state law (such as contraception or abortion care). It directly affects minors receiving such care, their parents/guardians, and healthcare facilities/professionals who must provide this access. The law provides legal immunity to healthcare providers who share these records as required, protecting them from liability claims. It specifically applies to reproductive health services legal in New Jersey and includes exceptions for child abuse disclosures or mandatory legal reporting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates parental access to minors' reproductive health records and provides provider immunity, improving transparency and patient rights access in healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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

A 3575: Requires State to take steps to create additional graduate medical education program slots focused on behavioral health care.

This bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to seek federal Medicaid waivers to fund additional graduate medical education slots focused on behavioral health care. It directly affects medical training programs in the state, enabling them to use Medicaid funds for new training positions in behavioral health. The bill establishes a process where existing and new medical education programs can request these funds, contingent on federal approval of the required Medicaid plan amendments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds behavioral health medical training via Medicaid waivers, expanding mental health care capacity and training programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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

A 1801: Lowers age at which minors can consent to behavioral health care treatment from age 16 to age 14.

This bill lowers the age at which New Jersey minors can consent to outpatient behavioral health treatment from 16 to 14 years old. It allows 14- and older minors to directly consent to temporary outpatient mental health care (excluding medication) for mental illness or emotional disorders without parental permission. The treatment must be provided by licensed professionals like psychologists or counselors in outpatient settings, and the care remains confidential. This change aims to improve access to mental health services for younger teens, aligning with similar laws in 10 other states.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareLowers consent age for minors to access mental health care, improving patient access to behavioral health services without parental permission.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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

A 382: Establishes counseling program for eligible family members of active duty military members and disabled veterans.

This bill establishes a state-funded counseling program to provide mental health services for family members of New Jersey's active-duty military personnel and disabled veterans. Eligible family members (spouses, domestic partners, civil union partners, or children of active-duty service members or disabled veterans who live in New Jersey) can receive up to 10 annual counseling sessions - either in-person or via telehealth - reimbursed by the state. The program requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to create a statewide provider list, set reimbursement rates, track session usage, and run outreach campaigns. Mental health professionals must agree to provide all 10 sessions per family member to qualify for reimbursement. The bill defines "disabled veteran" as a New Jersey resident honorably discharged with a VA-recognized service-connected disability.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds state mental health counseling for military families, expanding access to healthcare services as a direct provision of mental health support.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransFunds state counseling for veterans' families, directly expanding mental health support for dependents of disabled veterans and active-duty members.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Telehealth Military Families Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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

A 3741: Establishes "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act"; appropriates $1 million.

This bill creates the "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act" to address mental health needs in New Jersey's Hispanic and Latino communities. It requires the Commissioner of Health to develop and implement a culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach strategy - created with community input - to reduce stigma, increase awareness of common mental health conditions, and provide information on evidence-based treatments. The strategy must address pandemic impacts and consider differences within subgroups like gender, age, and ethnicity. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to fund this effort and mandates annual reports to track progress in improving mental health outcomes for these communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1 million for mental health services targeting Hispanic/Latino communities, directly funding a public health program per Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates $1M to create culturally tailored mental health outreach for Hispanic/Latino communities, directly expanding access to mental health services and reducing stigma.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health

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

A 440: Establishes "New Jersey Paid Prenatal Personal Leave Act."

This bill requires all New Jersey employers (including public entities and private businesses) to provide eligible pregnant employees with 20 hours of paid leave annually for prenatal health care appointments. Employees may take this leave in one-hour increments and receive regular pay for the time taken, covering activities like doctor visits, tests, and discussions with health providers related to pregnancy. Employers cannot retaliate against or discriminate against employees who use this leave, though unused leave does not carry over upon job separation. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides paid leave for prenatal appointments, improving access to health services without financial barriers for pregnant employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid prenatal leave (20 hours/year) for medical appointments, protecting workers' rights and expanding employment benefits without pay loss or retaliation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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

AR 120: Urges Congress to provide aid to Haitian migrants.

This resolution (AR 120) urges Congress to provide aid to Haitian migrants affected by Haiti's ongoing political crisis, gang violence, and natural disasters. It does not create new law but asks Congress to fund support for Haitian migrants, including shelter, legal services, food aid, and medical assistance through frontline organizations. The resolution cites Haiti's humanitarian challenges, including the 2021 earthquake, political instability, and food insecurity impacting millions. It directs copies to Haitian officials, U.S. ambassadors, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses legislative support but does not allocate funds or mandate action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly requests funding for medical assistance for Haitian migrants, directly advancing healthcare services as part of aid provision.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly urges Congress to fund Haitian migrant aid including shelter, legal services, food, and medical assistance due to Haiti's crises.95% confidence

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

A 1642: Establishes protection from adverse employment action for authorized medical cannabis patients.

This New Jersey bill (A 1642) protects registered medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination. It prohibits employers from taking adverse actions (like firing, refusing to hire, or changing pay) based solely on an employee’s medical cannabis use or positive drug test, unless the employer proves the use impaired job performance. Employees with a valid medical cannabis card can explain a positive test by providing a doctor’s recommendation or card within three business days, and may request a retest at their own expense. The law does not override federal restrictions, allowing employers to still enforce rules against intoxicating substances during work hours or if federal funding is at risk.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination, enabling access to healthcare without job loss risk, directly supporting patient access to medical treatment services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination, advancing workers' rights by prohibiting adverse actions based on legal medical use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

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

A 3287: Expands Medicaid coverage regarding assistive devices for hearing impaired under certain circumstances.

This bill (A 3287) clarifies that Medicaid in New Jersey will cover hearing aids and other assistive devices for hearing impairment as part of existing prosthetic device coverage. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries with hearing impairments who require these devices. The key mechanism is amending the state's Medicaid statute to explicitly include hearing aids under the "prosthetic devices" category listed in coverage provisions, aligning with federal Medicaid requirements. This change ensures that such devices are covered without requiring separate approval, streamlining access for eligible individuals. The bill is pending review by the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage for hearing aids under prosthetic devices, directly increasing access to essential health services for hearing-impaired beneficiaries.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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