TRENTON – With abortion expected to become illegal or heavily restricted in about half of all states now that the US Supreme Court has struck down Roe v. Wade, Governor Phil Murphy today signed two bills to protect people who receive and provide reproductive health care services in New Jersey.
“While others across the country repeal a woman’s right to reproductive freedom, New Jersey will continue to uphold this fundamental right in our state,” said Governor Murphy. “By strengthening protections against potential repercussions for both healthcare professionals and patients, we are sending a message to all who seek or provide reproductive health care within our borders that we welcome and support them. These laws represent our commitment to uphold the right of women to make their own decisions about their bodies and will serve to make our state a beacon of freedom for all women in America.”
“While the US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs may be among the most devastating and deeply misguided in US history, it will not stop us from using every tool available to us to continue to protect the right to choose.” said Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. . “These two critical pieces of legislation reinforce our commitment to protecting the abortion rights of New Jerseyans and anyone else who comes to our State for care. These laws also provide critical protections for health care providers and for the privacy of patients. I am grateful for Governor Murphy’s commitment to protecting women’s rights and reproductive freedom, and I am grateful to the Legislature for passing these important bills.”
The legislation establishes protections for patients and providers. For patients, the legislation helps ensure that out-of-state residents seeking reproductive health care in New Jersey can access confidential care without fear of prosecution. For providers, the legislation insulates health care professionals from disciplinary actions brought in New Jersey based on the provision of reproductive health care, including abortion, which is legal in New Jersey.
The first bill (A-3975/S-2633) would generally prevent the disclosure of a patient’s medical records related to reproductive health care without their consent in any civil, probate, legislative, or administrative proceeding. It would also prohibit public entities and employees from cooperating with interstate investigations seeking to hold someone accountable for seeking, receiving, facilitating, or providing reproductive health care services that are lawful in New Jersey.
It would further protect providers by prohibiting New Jersey licensing boards from suspending, revoking, or refusing to renew a practitioner’s license or registration based solely on their involvement in the provision of reproductive health services.
The second bill (A-3974/S-2642) would prevent the extradition of a person within New Jersey to another state for receiving, providing, or facilitating reproductive health care services that are legal in New Jersey.
Major sponsors of both bills include Senators Nia Gill, Nellie Pou, and Gordon Johnson, and Assemblymembers Lisa Swain, Mila Jasey, and Raj Mukherji.
“Last week, the Supreme Court took a dramatic step back by overturning a landmark decision that was the cornerstone of protecting reproductive freedom in America. This decision has been the catalyst for continued efforts to enact stronger laws that amplify and defend women’s right to choose in New Jersey,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “Due to the provisions being enacted today, the ability to seek and receive safe and legal reproductive health services will become a guaranteed right for all who wish to access them in our state. While this does not change the tragic reality for many people who live in places where reproductive rights have been stripped away, anyone who decides to come to New Jersey and have an abortion will be protected from facing criminal charges in their home state. I am proud to lead and govern in a state where the value and importance of guaranteeing the right to choose is prioritized and respected.”
“I would like to thank the Governor for signing these key measures today to protect the right of anyone to have an abortion in this state,” said Senator Nia Gill. “The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has left millions of women devastated as their right to make their own health decisions is now in jeopardy. With this legislation in place, anyone, regardless of where they are from, can receive reproductive health services in this state and will be protected by New Jersey state law. Our state has a duty to defend those who exercise their reproductive rights from punitive restrictions on their freedoms out of state, and I am pleased to say that the right to choose is a sacred right for all in New Jersey.”
“Despite the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, New Jersey believes that questions and decisions related to a person’s reproductive health care and wellness are private and best left to the person and their provider. These bills are intended to reinforce the basic right of access to safe, quality reproductive health care for all New Jerseyans, as well as to protect those from outside who may come to our state for health services. that are not available to them at home,” the Senator said. Nellie Pou. “The fundamental right to privacy that was part of the original Roe decision remains relevant today, and is also an integral part of these new laws that will offer basic protections for those seeking and administering reproductive health care in New Jersey.”
“Access to reproductive health services is vital to women’s overall health and well-being. In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs, we must continue to do everything we can to protect people’s health care choices,” said Senator Gordon Johnson. “While people in New Jersey are guaranteed the right to make decisions about their bodies and their health, this legislation provides the same protections for people who come from other states.”
“We acted in January of this year with a preemptive strike to ensure New Jersey women are not affected by the whims of Scotus and his overturning of Roe v. Wade,” said Assemblywoman Lisa Swain. “Women and their doctors are the only people necessary to make decisions about their bodies and their reproductive health. This new law is intended to protect medical professionals who provide reproductive health services in New Jersey who violate the laws of any other state and prohibits the use of extradition. We will continue to protect women and ensure they can make their own medical decisions in collaboration with their doctors.”
“Many states have already enacted laws that will prohibit a woman’s right to make personal decisions with her doctor about her health care,” said Assemblywoman Mila Jasey. “We have enacted to allow here in New Jersey to ensure that women’s rights are protected. This new law is one more step”.
“With certain states taking sweeping steps, such as allowing civil litigation against New Jersey doctors and health care personnel for providing reproductive health care and reaching beyond their borders to criminalize travel to our state by women using the fundamental rights protected by New Jersey law, we must act to protect a woman’s control over her own bodily autonomy and her future,” said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji. “New Jersey will not extradite women or health care providers who have been criminally charged under unfair and overreaching laws in another state for protected activities occurring within our state. New Jersey will protect the sacrosanct privacy of people’s medical records, and we will not cooperate with efforts to harass our medical providers through extraterritorial litigation for conduct that occurs directly within our borders and falls directly under our laws.”
“Reproductive freedom is a human right, and everyone deserves the opportunity to safely access reproductive health care without facing unfair retaliation,” said Assemblywoman Shanique Speight. “New Jersey has not only enshrined the right to reproductive freedom in state law on behalf of our own residents, but we are also working to make reproductive care available to out-of-state residents who come here for these crucial services. ”.
“In these challenging times, we must stand up for reproductive freedom and be a safe haven for women seeking the reproductive care they need,” said Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer. “Protecting private patient information and prohibiting professional retaliation against providers are key ways we can work toward this valuable goal.”
“Everyone should be able to make their own personal health care decisions, without fear, intimidation, stigma or delay. New Jersey continues to be a national leader, passing laws like S2633/A3975 and S2642/A3974, when it comes to protecting the right to abortion care,” said Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. . . “We are grateful that leadership, the state legislature and Governor Murphy have taken swift action to protect patients and providers in New Jersey, and we look forward to continuing the work to ensure all New Jerseyans can access the care they deserve. need, including by passing S2918/A4350 as soon as possible.
