Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Ramirez
SYNOPSIS
Requires midwives and physicians to provide pregnant women information on birthing options prior to delivery.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee on December 18, 2025, with amendments.
An Act concerning pregnancy and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Certified nurse midwife" means a midwife licensed by the State Board of Medical Examiners as a certified nurse midwife pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1991, c.97 (C.45:10-17 et al.).
"Physician" means an individual licensed to practice medicine and surgery in this State.
b. A certified nurse midwife or physician who practices obstetrics 1and provides prenatal maternity care to a pregnant patient1 shall provide 1[a] each1 pregnant patient 1in the midwife’s or physician’s care1, in writing in English and in at least the seven most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited-English proficiency in this State based on the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey data, during the initial consultation, and prior to the onset of labor 1[as determined by the Department of Health in consultation with midwives and physicians]1, with evidence-based information on all birthing options that are available to the patient 1[, including] . The information provided shall include1 , but not 1be1 limited to, 1information on1 planned hospital 1[birth induced with Pitocin or an] induced births,1 epidural 1births1, hospital water births, home water births, hospital non-Medicaid births, home non-Medicaid births, scheduled births and scheduled C-sections, emergency C-sections, health risks associated with each birthing option, health risks to the mother and infant associated with an epidural, Pitocin, and other medications, and a list of birthing options that 1[are] may be1 covered by 1[the] a1 patient’s health insurance carrier.
c. 1[A certified nurse midwife or physician shall be
required to provide on an annual basis, in a language that a pregnant patient
understands,] The Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of
Health, in consultation with certified nurse midwives and physicians in the
State, shall develop the1 evidence-based 1[education] information1 on all birthing options 1[available] to be provided1 to 1[the] a pregnant1 patient in accordance with subsection b. of this 1[act] section. The Commissioner of Health shall take
reasonable steps to ensure that information is provided in a language that the
pregnant patient can understand1.
2. The Commissioner of Health shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as are necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment.