On Monday, a New Jersey Assembly committee took a significant step forward by advancing a Democratic-supported bill aimed at criminalizing interference with transgender and reproductive health care access.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to approve the bill, setting the stage for a full legislative vote later this week. Should it pass, it will move to Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill’s desk for her signature.
If the bill becomes law, New Jersey will make history as the first state to explicitly criminalize hindrances to these vital health services.
Originally introduced in the summer of 2024, the legislation proposes the creation of a new criminal charge for those obstructing “reproductive health services,” which encompasses abortion care.
According to the New Jersey Monitor, the bill also seeks to safeguard access to transgender healthcare for minors, covering treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and associated mental health support.
The proposed protections extend to out-of-state individuals seeking services in New Jersey, especially from areas where abortion is heavily restricted or outlawed. The bill also aims to protect healthcare providers and facilities, imposing legal consequences for interference, even if it originates beyond New Jersey’s borders.
“This bill is to protect healthcare. Not a political debate. Not a culture war talking point. Healthcare,” bill sponsor Sen. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, previously said, according to the New Jersey Monitor. “Our law enforcement will not carry out another state’s agenda.”
According to the outlet, Republican lawmakers and opponents argued Monday that the bill could infringe on free speech rights, further erode parental rights and effectively make New Jersey a “sanctuary state” for certain providers.
Gregory Quinlan, founder and leader of the conservative advocacy group Center for Garden State Families, said anti-abortion activists could face arrest simply for praying outside clinics or engaging in what he described as “sidewalk counseling” sessions, the outlet reported.
Despite the criticism, Ruiz has previously said the bill “is not a violation of First Amendment rights,” according to the New Jersey Monitor.
According to the bill, medical entities and public officials will be barred from disclosing patient information without explicit consent, further strengthening privacy protections.
The measure would also make it a fourth-degree crime to harass, harm or block individuals from accessing or providing such services, while extending protections to providers against extradition to states that have criminalized reproductive or transgender treatments.
Violators who inflict significant bodily injury on individuals who receive such services could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
Beyond criminal penalties, the proposal would also allow for civil litigation and authorize the state attorney general to seek injunctions and financial penalties against alleged violators.
