MONTCLAIR, NJ — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed a crucial bill protecting gender affirming and reproductive healthcare in New Jersey. The law protects New Jersey healthcare providers, patients, and families from out-of-state attacks motivated by politics and ideology. It confirms doctors should pursue evidence-based medicine without fear of politically-motivated prosecution from other states and the new law reinforces the primacy of provider-patient confidentiality.
A coalition of groups from across the state celebrated the bill’s passage after nearly three years of education and advocacy with lawmakers. The groups advocating for the bill include Garden State Equality, the Transgender Rights Coalition of New Jersey (TRC-NJ), Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, Lawyers for Good Government, the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR)-SEIU, WadeIn New Jersey, and SOMA Action.
The groups expressed deep gratitude to New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, Assembly Majority Leader Craig Coughlin, Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Luanne Peterpaul, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, all of the bill’s sponsors and co-sponsors, legislative staff who worked on the bill, and their many dedicated coalition partners.
The legislation confirms that New Jersey health providers, patients, and those who support them are subject solely to New Jersey and federal law and that the state will not honor abusive out-of-state subpoenas, judgments, and criminal processes targeting lawful healthcare services in New Jersey. It does not change any existing state law regarding how care is provided in New Jersey.
The new law is essential for New Jerseyans. Other U.S. states have passed politically-motivated laws prohibiting or criminalizing the types of healthcare this bill protects and have pursued indictments against physicians and subpoenas of confidential medical and personal information, including of children.
With Governor Sherrill’s signature, New Jersey joins the 16 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to enshrine a shield law to protect both gender affirming and reproductive healthcare in the state. Such laws have been enacted across the country to protect vital, legal healthcare services facing politically- and ideologically-motivated attacks, ungrounded in science or lived experience.
Lauren Albrecht, Senior Director of Advocacy & Organizing at Garden State Equality:
“Despite the invasive and harmful actions being attempted by federal agencies and other states on a near-daily basis, New Jersey has decisively declared today that we believe in protecting our providers, and with that, their patients, from politically motivated attacks on bodily autonomy and self-determination. This moment is the embodiment of what happens when our elected officials lead with conviction, and listen to advocates and experts. Garden State Equality is profoundly grateful to Senator Ruiz, Senate President Scutari, Assemblywoman Speight, Assemblywoman Peterpaul, Speaker Coughlin, and the countless hours dedicated by legislative staff. We also thank Governor Sherrill, who has made clear where New Jersey stands in the national picture.”
Natalie Baker, a co-founder and steering committee member of the Transgender Rights Coalition of New Jersey (TRC-NJ):
“As a healthcare provider and as a parent of a transgender child, I know that the care this law protects is safe, evidence based, and can mean the difference between a childhood spent thriving and one spent in distress. Today, New Jersey makes clear that medical decisions stay where they belong: with patients, families and doctors. My fellow providers, my patients, and my family can all breathe a little easier.”
Khadijah Silver (they/them), civil rights attorney and Director of Gender Justice & Health Equity at Lawyers for Good Government:
“These protections are essential legal infrastructure, giving New Jersey patients and providers the security to seek and provide lawful healthcare without fear of hostile investigations, prosecutions, or harassment from outside the state. Today is a major victory for everyone who believes personal health decisions should be made by individuals, families, and their doctors. New Jersey has shown what is possible when lawmakers, healthcare providers, reproductive rights advocates, transgender advocates, and legal organizations come together around the shared goal of protecting bodily autonomy and access to care.”
Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey:
“Today is a historic day in New Jersey. The signing of S2260/A2218 sends a message to the country that in New Jersey we protect reproductive and gender affirming health care. This legislation will ensure that everyone can access the care that they need safely and with dignity. 20 states across the country ban or severely restrict access to abortion. With this signing, New Jersey is standing up as a beacon of hope for reproductive health care across the country and ensuring that all patients and providers are protected for exercising their fundamental right to health care. Thank you Governor Sherrill, Senator Ruiz, Assemblywomen Speight and Peterpaul, and all of the people who worked tirelessly to protect reproductive freedom in New Jersey.”
Paris Ayala-Keighley, MD, member of Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU):
“Every patient deserves medically appropriate care and every healthcare provider deserves to be able to practice evidence-based medicine without fear of politically motivated attacks from out of state. This legislation sends a clear message that New Jersey stands by its doctors and is committed to protecting reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare at a time when access is under attack across the country. As a member of the transgender community who both accesses and provides reproductive healthcare, I know how crucial these protections are and I’m proud that our union worked alongside advocates, lawmakers, and community partners to make them a reality.”