Bills in the 2026–2027 Session, Senate.
Joseph F. Vitale
Sponsored
Became law2
Eliminates certain practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses.
Extends certain provisions relating to involuntary commitment.
Passed the Senate2
Provides certain protections to residents of long-term care facilities and long-term acute care hospitals.
Requires pharmacist or pharmacist's designee to notify consumer of substituted drug or biological product.
Out of committee15
Requires children's meals and beverages served in certain settings to meet nutritional standards.*
Revises reporting requirements for nursing homes concerning financial disclosures and ownership structure.
Establishes certain requirements and initiatives related to nurses; appropriates funds.
Establishes "Midwifery Licensing Act." *
Provides for licensure of emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians and certification of mobility assistance vehicle operators; revises requirements for delivery of emergency medical and patient transportation services.
Establishes telecommunication fee to support Statewide behavioral health crisis system of care.
Requires certain golf courses to maintain automated external defibrillator.
Makes supplemental General Fund appropriation of $45 million to DHS for opioid related care and treatment at certain hospitals.
Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.
Increases cap on personal care assistant services from 40 hours to 91 hours per week for Medicaid beneficiary determined clinically eligible for nursing facility level of care.
Revises certain requirements for prescription of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances via telemedicine and telehealth without in-person examination or review.*
Creates voluntary pilot program to allow certain facilities flexibility in their psychiatric bed status.
Strengthens oversight and enforcement of network adequacy requirements for health insurance carriers; requires health insurance carriers to make network directory available.*
Expands role of New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute and transfers $3 million from DCF to DHS for establishment of dashboard and associated implementation.
Establishes fee on certain employers that employ individuals who receive health benefits coverage through State Medicaid program.
In committee95
Revises penalties for certain prohibited sales of tobacco and vapor products and smoking in indoor places.
Requires restaurants to provide healthy beverages with meals designated for children.
Prohibits sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices at certain pharmacies.
Prohibits sale of flavored cigarettes, non-premium cigars, and oral nicotine pouches.
Expands scope of Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Establishes requirements for sanctions and other actions involving low-performing nursing homes.
Requires procurement of management support and other services for certain nursing homes.
Establishes "Mission Critical Long-Term Care Teams"; provides for identification of and intervention at long-term care facilities at risk of operational and financial distress.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on bleed control as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
Requires automatic registration with New Jersey Immunization Information System upon administration of vaccine for certain persons who consent to registration.
Eliminates fee for filing certified copy of name change order.
Requires automatic enrollment of certain persons recently ineligible for Medicaid in health benefits plan; requires DHS to electronically publish certain data regarding NJ FamilyCare eligibility renewals and call center performance.
Regulates provision of pharmaceutical services in long-term care facilities.
Provides categorical eligibility for subsidized child care services to certain child care workers.
Establishes Office of Child Advocate.
Imposes certain rate filing requirements concerning certain health benefits plans available on State-based exchange.
Requires study and implementation of reference-based pricing for SHBP and SEHBP.
Removes exemption from law regulating patient referrals.
Clarifies coverage requirements for health insurers of over-the-counter contraceptive drugs.
Creates New Jersey Board of Paramedicine.
Codifies and extends authorization for certain out-of-State health care practitioners and recent graduates of health care training programs to practice in New Jersey.
Requires use of merchant category codes for purchases of firearms and ammunition.
Enhances enforcement authority over developmental disability service providers; establishes "Residential Facility Quality of Care Improvement Fund" in DHS.
Establishes certain governance and service standards for developmental disability service providers; appropriates $300,000.
Establishes "Disability Mortality and Abuse Prevention Advisory Committee" in DHS; makes appropriation.
Establishes framework for appointment of receiver for provider of services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Requires Medicaid coverage for fertility preservation services in cases of iatrogenic infertility caused by medically necessary treatments.
Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for screening, prevention, and treatment services of behavioral health issues affecting children.
Authorizes voluntary post-adoption contact agreements.
Limits estate recovery under Medicaid to federal mandated recovery for nursing home care and other long-term care costs.
"Healthy Smiles Act"; increases NJ FamilyCare fee-for-service reimbursement rates for pediatric dental services; requires NJ FamilyCare managed care rates for identical services be no less than fee-for-service rates.
Creates Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission, Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency, and hospital price transparency regulations.
Requires public and nonpublic school athletic coaches to obtain certification in automated external defibrillator operation and first aid; updates requirements of emergency action plan for sports-related injury.
Requires volunteers, employees, and organizers of certain youth and sports organizations to receive criminal history record background checks.
Expands New Jersey's certificate of need exemption list.
Increases scope of practice for licensed practical nurses and patient care technicians under certain circumstances.
Revises certain references to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in statutory and regulatory law; Requires health benefits coverage for certain immunizations recommended by DOH.
Requires hospitals to maintain minimum services when relocating from underserved community.
Establishes "Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act."
Permits State employees not covered by collective negotiations agreements to enroll in certain negotiated health care plans.
Establishes Restaurant Meals Program in DHS; permits certain individuals to use SNAP benefits at approved restaurants; requires participation by certain restaurants operated by institutions of higher education.
Requires workers' compensation, PIP, and health insurance coverage for the medical use of cannabis under certain circumstances.
Requires long-term care facility to post certain information on its Internet website regarding Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Requires each school district with middle school or high school to establish food services advisory committee to consider menu options that reflect students' cultural, traditional, and dietary preferences.
Amends law to extend length of postpartum coverage for Medicaid services for eligible pregnant women to 180-day period.
Establishes gross income tax credit for cost of certain postage for sending goods to members of United States Armed Forces and National Guard who are serving their country away from home.
Requires certain providers of substance or alcohol use disorder treatment, services, or supports to be assessed for conflicts of interest prior to receiving State funds, licensure, or certification.
Prohibits NJT from displaying advertisements that promote gambling, tobacco products, or vapor products.
Requires age verification and parent or guardian consent for minor's use of social media platform; prohibits certain messaging between adults and minors on social media platform.
Requires public and nonpublic secondary schools to annually conduct written or verbal substance use screening on all students using a particular screening program.
Excludes certain income earned from health promotion or disease prevention work from income eligibility determination under NJ FamilyCare, WFNJ, and NJ SNAP.
Transfers oversight to certified nurse aides from DOH to Board of Nursing.
Requires DHS to develop incentives to encourage private investment in child care deserts.
Requires Medicaid coverage for continuous glucose monitors and related supplies for individuals diagnosed with diabetes who meet certain coverage eligibility criteria.
Clarifies that bribery statute applies to unlawful gratuities received either before or after official acts.
Modifies tax rate on certain tobacco and nicotine products.
Requires State provider subsidy payments for child care services to be based on enrollment.
Allows gross income tax credit for certain child care staff and registered family day care providers.
Requires DHS to establish quality-based reimbursement system for registered family child care providers participating in Grow NJ Kids.
Concerns social media privacy and data management for children and establishes New Jersey Children's Data Protection Commission.
Requires DOH to purchase xylazine test strips to be distributed to entities that provide authorized harm reduction services; makes appropriation.
Creates certain protections for insurers and insurance producers engaging in business of insurance in connection with cannabis-related businesses.
Prohibits targeted advertisements that promote vapor products or use of vapor products to individuals under the age of 21 on social media platforms.
Establishes "New Jersey Living Donor Support Program" in DOH; makes appropriation.
Requires certain businesses to submit excess food reduction plan to DEP; provides CBT credit to eligible businesses that reduce excess food by 25 percent.
Requires helmet while operating bicycle, scooter, or motorized scooter.
Allows costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, PAAD, Senior Gold and VCCO.
Establishes act of disseminating misinformation as professional misconduct for health care professionals.
Provides for independent prescriptive authority for midwives.
Requires DOH to evaluate hospital compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements.
Clarifies DHS authority to regulate sober living homes and halfway houses as residential substance abuse aftercare facilities; requires background checks and other protections for residents of residential substance abuse facilities.
Establishes Nursing School Expansion Grant Program; appropriates $25 million.
Expands scope of Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman; appropriates $1 million.
Designates minimum percentage of residential substance use disorder treatment facility beds for use by NJ FamilyCare eligible individuals as condition for licensure.
Provides corporation business tax credit for certain investment in manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation, modernization, and expansion, or hiring and training of new employees for manufacturing purposes.
Concerns family leave and gestational carriers.
Increases penalties for certain prohibited sales of tobacco and vapor products.
Appropriates $10 million to Department of Treasury for nurse preceptor tax credits.
Prohibits social media platforms from using certain practices or features that cause child users to become addicted to platform.
Requires Medicaid and health insurance network contracts to provide participating health care providers with certain notifications.
Establishes oversight and qualifications of peer recovery specialists.
Provides for transfer and sale of inactive liquor licenses for use in qualifying smart growth municipalities.
Prohibits business entities from selling or manufacturing certain personal flotation devices not approved by United States Coast Guard.
Revises territorial rating plans used by insurers writing private passenger automobile insurance.
"Property Tax Relief Act"; makes various changes to SHBP and SEHBP administration and limits reimbursement for certain medical procedures.
Prohibits health insurance carriers from denying coverage of nonopioid prescription drugs in favor of opioid prescription drugs.
The "Family and Private Burial Grounds Preservation Act."
Supplemental appropriation of $35 million from General Fund to DHS to support Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Centers within 9-8-8 Continuum of Care.
Requires DOH to establish database to record provision of newborn vitamin K injection.
Requires volunteers, employees, and organizers of youth serving organizations obtain annual criminal history record background checks and certain training; requires Commissioner of DCF establish training.
Requires youth serving organization to adopt and implement "Air Quality Participation Policy" established by Commissioner of Health.
Establishes Basic Health Program for low-income individuals who are ineligible for Medicaid.
Requires DOBI to develop pilot program to automatically assess NJ FamilyCare eligibility on existing State-based exchange.
Establishes and requires use of Medicaid preferred drug list.
Expands responsibilities of Newborn Screening Advisory Review Committee.
Filed1
Requires schools to serve free breakfast to all students in public schools.
Carried from the General Assembly
Became law4
Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health.
Revises certain requirements for prescription of Schedule II controlled dangerous substances via telemedicine and telehealth without in-person examination or review.*
Creates voluntary pilot program to allow certain facilities flexibility in their psychiatric bed status.
Establishes fee on certain employers that employ individuals who receive health benefits coverage through State Medicaid program.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 1
Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; requires school districts to develop mental health support and partnership programs. **
Out of committee · 8
Requires DHS and DOH, respectively, to provide information to SNAP, WFNJ, and WIC recipients regarding card skimming, cloning, and similar fraudulent activities and to replace stolen benefits; makes appropriation.
"Electronic Cigarette Extended Producer Responsibility Act."
"Polluters Pay to Make New Jersey More Affordable Act"; imposes cost recovery payments on certain fossil fuel companies for funds needed for climate change adaptation; establishes program in DEP to collect and oversee distribution of funds.*
"Stop Sepsis Act"; Requires hospitals to establish sepsis recognition and treatment protocols, train staff, and establish quality measures.*
Requires food service businesses to provide written notice of major food allergens in each menu item.
Requires youth and sports organizations to obtain criminal history record background checks of certain volunteers, employees and organizers.*
Provides for youth mental health care professionals in family court.
Requires DCF to strengthen Statewide pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health care services for children and families.
In committee · 34
Eliminates smoking ban exemption for casinos and simulcasting facilities.
Permits PERS retiree to return to elective public office after retirement under certain circumstances.
Expands Medicare health care coverage to all New Jersey residents.
Requires public school student with concussion to be evaluated by physician or other licensed health care provider before return to school and return to physical activity at school.
Prohibits investment by State of pension and annuity funds in, and requires divestment from, 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
Enters New Jersey into Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact.
Allows persons diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn's disease to receive parking privileges reserved for persons with disability.
Adopts Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact.
Requires public schools to develop policy for administration of nasal seizure rescue medication and use of manual vagas nerve stimulators for students with seizure disorder on emergent basis.
Broadens eligibility for certain veterans' benefits by eliminating requirement of service during specified dates or in specified locations.
Increases personal needs allowance to $140 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities.
Authorizes home cultivation of medical cannabis.
Establishes minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain ambulance transportation services.
Establishes program to subsidize purchase price of medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare programs.
Prohibits government dealings with businesses associated with Azerbaijan.
Extends duration of law requiring certain provider subsidy payments for child care services be based on enrollment.
Provides temporary corporation business tax and gross income tax credits for certain employer-provided child care expenditures.
Requires minimum annual State appropriation of $10 million for Public Health Priority Funding.
Establishes certain protections for health care professionals who receive behavioral health care and apply for State licensure.
Establishes "New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission" to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs.
Lowers age at which minors can consent to behavioral health care treatment from age 16 to age 14.
"Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Services Act"; authorizes production and use of psilocybin to promote health and wellness.
Imposes tax on collection of consumer data in certain instances; dedicates portion of annual revenues to support 9-8-8 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline.
Requires institutions of higher education to maintain supply and develop policy governing use of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies.
Imposes various taxes and fees on operators of private prisons to offset social costs of incarceration.
Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for testing and treatments to slow progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.
Requires health insurance carriers to cover genetic testing after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Establishes pancreatic cancer awareness campaign.
Establishes "Targeted Midwifery Workforce Development Act"; appropriates $12 million.
Establishes Veteran's Treatment Court Program.
"Public School Employees' Health Benefits Trust Act."
Expands role and reach of Regional Hub Program.
Prohibits private use and regulates government use of automated license plate readers.
Permits licensed hospitals to establish micro-hospitals under certain conditions.
Filed · 1
Provides gross income tax credit for taxpayers who donate blood.