New Jersey lawmakers advance a bill expanding reproductive and gender-affirming health care protections, patient privacy, and provider safeguards.
The measure has passed the state Senate and cleared another Assembly committee, but still needs full Assembly approval before it could reach Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
MORRISTOWN, NJ – A New Jersey bill that would expand legal protections for patients and providers involved in reproductive health care, including certain care related to gender identity or expression, advanced this week in Trenton and could move next to a full Assembly vote.
The bill, A2218, was reported out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee with amendments on Monday, June 8, 2026, after its Senate counterpart, S2260, passed the state Senate in late May. The legislation has not become law. It still requires approval by the full Assembly before it could be sent to Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
The measure is politically charged because it deals with abortion access, gender-affirming care, out-of-state legal actions, patient privacy and the ability of protesters or other individuals to challenge or interfere with health care access. Supporters describe it as a shield for patients and providers. Opponents argue that parts of the bill could restrict speech, protest activity or parental rights.
The Assembly bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, Assemblywoman Ellen Park, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano and Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul, all Democrats. The Senate version is sponsored by Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz and Sen. Nicholas Scutari, also Democrats.
According to legislative tracking, S2260 passed the Senate 23-12 on May 28, then moved to the Assembly. A2218 cleared the Assembly Health Committee on May 14 and the Assembly Appropriations Committee on June 8, where it was reported with amendments and placed on second reading.
More About The Bill
The bill’s official synopsis says it would secure protections for patients and providers accessing and providing reproductive health care services and establish a right for residents to reproductive health care activity that is restricted in other states.
Under the current text, “reproductive health care services” includes services related to pregnancy, assisted reproductive technology, contraception, miscarriage management and abortion. The bill also includes care and medication “to support a person’s alignment with their gender identity or expression,” as long as the care is consistent with New Jersey standards and does not violate state law, regulation, agency standards or the applicable professional standard of care.
One of the bill’s central provisions would create a new crime of “interference with reproductive health care services.” A person could be charged if they purposely or knowingly inflict or attempt to inflict bodily injury, physically obstruct entry to or exit from a health care facility, intimidate or threaten a patient or provider, damage property, or cause certain reputational, financial or emotional harms because a person or entity provides, assists with or receives reproductive health care services.
The offense would generally be a fourth-degree crime. It would become a third-degree crime if the victim suffers bodily injury and a second-degree crime if the victim suffers significant bodily injury or serious bodily injury.
The bill would also allow a person who says they were harmed by unlawful interference to bring a civil action in Superior Court. Courts could award injunctive relief, compensatory damages of at least $1,000 per violation, punitive damages in certain cases, attorney’s fees and other relief. A criminal conviction would not be required before a civil case could be filed.
The legislation would also give the Attorney General, county prosecutors and municipal prosecutors authority to bring civil actions to stop activity that violates the bill and to seek civil penalties. Those penalties would be capped at $10,000 for a first violation and $25,000 for a second or later violation.
Beyond facility access, the bill would limit how New Jersey agencies, courts and law enforcement respond to certain out-of-state investigations or legal actions involving reproductive health care activity that is lawful in New Jersey. The bill says New Jersey public entities and officials generally could not provide information, resources or assistance for interstate or, where permitted by federal law, federal investigations seeking to impose civil or criminal liability for reproductive health care activity that is legal in New Jersey.
The measure would also amend New Jersey’s extradition law. Under the bill, the governor could not surrender a person to another state if the person was not in that state when the alleged crime occurred, did not flee from that state and is charged based on reproductive health care activity protected under New Jersey law.
The bill also addresses licensing and malpractice insurance. Professional boards could not penalize a licensed or certified provider based solely on reproductive health care activity protected by the bill. Medical malpractice insurers could not take adverse action against a covered provider solely because the patient lives in a state where the services are illegal or because another state disciplined the provider for activity protected in New Jersey.
Support & Opposition
Supporters say the legislation is needed because providers and patients may face legal threats from states that restrict abortion or gender-affirming care. Garden State Equality, which is supporting the bill with other reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ organizations, said the Assembly is expected to vote on the measure Thursday and described it as a bill to shield New Jersey providers from prosecution by other states and the federal government.
Lauren Albrecht, senior director of advocacy and organizing at Garden State Equality, said in a statement that supporters stand with patients and providers receiving and providing legally protected health care in New Jersey.
“LGBTQ+ New Jerseyans will be able to access the medically-necessary, proven-effective life-saving treatments our providers offer without fear of intimidation. We trust our providers to take care of us, and now we’re poised to protect them,” said Lauren Albrecht, Senior Director of Advocacy & Organizing
“At its core, this bill is about humanity and established NJ law: ensuring that every person, regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender is treated with dignity and has the autonomy to make healthcare decisions. It affirms that families, in consultation with trusted healthcare providers, are empowered to make medical decisions for their children and themselves without government interference. It protects the fundamental rights of NJ healthcare providers to treat patients without fear of reprisal from other states or federal entities which do not share our values,” said Jane Buchanan, parent and advocate, Transgender Rights Coalition of New Jersey.
Opposition has come from Republican lawmakers and conservative organizations, who argue that the bill’s interference provisions could affect protest activity or speech. Assemblyman Sean Kean, a Monmouth County Republican, said in a June 8 statement that he opposes the measure and will vote no if it reaches the Assembly floor.
“This is an anti-American, anti-religion, anti-freedom edict disguised as a measure that protects a woman’s reproductive rights. It really exists to silence critics of the radical left promoting abortion and gender dysphoria. Supporters of this bill want to intimidate New Jerseyans from standing with religious leaders, families, medical providers and other advocates who have real and valid concerns over the pro-abortion and trans political agenda,” Kean (R-Monmouth) said. “I am opposed to these efforts to erode the rights of the people under the United States and New Jersey Constitutions and will vote no when this bill comes up for a floor vote.”
Legal concerns have also been raised inside the Legislature. The New Jersey State Bar Association, which supports the bill, reported that Sen. Jon Bramnick raised concerns about language allowing claims for mental anguish and about restrictions on professional board penalties. Ruiz, the Senate sponsor, said she would consider changes to address the concern.
“My concern is the restriction is so broad the damages seem to be inevitable or likely that there would be mental anguish,” Sen. Jon Bramnick said.
The bill is part of a broader New Jersey policy debate over how far the state should go in protecting health care that is legal in New Jersey but restricted or prohibited elsewhere.
If enacted, the bill would take effect immediately.