JUNE 9, 2026
New Jersey Assembly committee advances bill that would criminalize interference with abortion and transgender healthcare
New Jersey's Assembly Appropriations Committee approved a Democratic-backed bill on Monday that would criminalize interference with access to abortion and transgender healthcare services. The measure passed along party lines and could receive a full legislative vote later this week before reaching Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill. If signed into law, New Jersey would become the first state in the nation to explicitly criminalize such interference.
The bill, first introduced in the summer of 2024, would establish a new criminal offense for "interference with reproductive health services," including abortion procedures. It would also protect access to transgender healthcare for minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and related mental health treatments, according to Fox News, citing the New Jersey Monitor.
Protections under the measure would extend to individuals who travel to New Jersey from states where abortion is restricted or illegal, as well as to healthcare providers and facilities. The proposal includes legal penalties for interference originating from outside the state and would bar medical entities and public officials from disclosing patient information without explicit consent.
The bill carries graduated criminal penalties: making it a fourth-degree crime to harass, harm, or block individuals from accessing or providing covered services; and allowing for up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000 for violators who inflict significant bodily injury. It would also authorize civil litigation and empower the state attorney general to seek injunctions and financial penalties against alleged violators.