ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

ASSEMBLY, Nos. 2181 and 2188

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

ADOPTED OCTOBER 22, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblywoman  SHAMA A. HAIDER

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman  TENNILLE R. MCCOY

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblywoman  DAWN FANTASIA

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Carter, Assemblyman Miller, Assemblywoman Swain, Assemblyman Tully, Assemblywomen Peterpaul, Donlon, and Karabinchak

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for endometriosis.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Substitute as adopted by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

An Act concerning endometriosis evaluations 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.  The Commissioner of Health shall require every licensed physician or health care practitioner in the State providing perinatal care to a pregnant person or a person who has given birth, to refer the person for an endometriosis evaluation if the person has been diagnosed with preeclampsia and subsequently shows symptoms of endometriosis. 

     b.  The Board of Medical Examiners shall require every obstetric care provider, who is the primary caregiver for a pregnant person, or a person who seeks perinatal care within six weeks of giving birth, to in accordance with nationally recognized guidelines:

     (1) provide the person with information, developed by the Department of Health, on endometriosis and potential warning signs and symptoms;

     (2) inform the person of the benefits of being evaluated for endometriosis if the person has been diagnosed with preeclampsia and subsequently shows symptoms of endometriosis; and

     (3) evaluate the person for endometriosis or refer the person to a qualified obstetric care provider for an endometriosis evaluation unless the person provides written refusal.

     c.  The commissioner shall develop, in consultation with the Endometriosis Foundation of America and any other community-based organization as may be designated by the commissioner, educational information concerning endometriosis for pregnant individuals and individuals who have recently given birth and have been diagnosed with preeclampsia and subsequently show symptoms of endometriosis.  The educational information provided shall include information on endometriosis and the potential warning signs and symptoms of endometriosis.

     d.  Upon receipt of a referral for an endometriosis evaluation pursuant to subsection a. or b. of this section, the obstetric care provider shall perform an evaluation and discuss the results with the person and, if the person has a positive diagnosis of endometriosis, develop a treatment plan to minimize the person’s risk from endometriosis.

     2.  a.  Every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), every federally qualified health center, and every licensed health care practitioner providing prenatal care to a pregnant person, or postpartum care to a person who seeks treatment within 12 weeks of giving birth, shall adopt and adhere to policies requiring the person to be evaluated, as necessary, for hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy, including, but not limited to, postpartum preeclampsia and hypertension, if the person shows symptoms of the condition and has not in the current or recent pregnancy previously been diagnosed with the condition or after the onset of such symptoms.  Evaluation tools shall be based on best practices and guidance, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body.

     b.    Every birthing center licensed in the State pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.), every federally qualified health center, and every licensed health care practitioner providing prenatal care to a pregnant person, or postpartum care to a person who seeks treatment within 12 weeks of giving birth, shall, in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based treatment practices:

     (1)   provide the person with evidence-based information on hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy preeclampsia, including, but not limited to, postpartum preeclampsia and hypertension and potential warning signs and symptoms;

     (2)   inform the person of the benefits of being evaluated for hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy preeclampsia, including, but not limited to, postpartum preeclampsia and hypertension, if the person shows symptoms of any such disorders, and that the person should be evaluated for hypertensive disorders related to pregnancy under the circumstances set forth in this section unless the person declines to be evaluated; and

     (3)   upon receipt of the results of any evaluation conducted pursuant to this section, discuss the results with the person and, if the person has a positive evaluation for preeclampsia, develop an evidence-based treatment plan to minimize the person’s risk from preeclampsia.

     3.  The Commissioner of Health may adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), and the State Board of Medical Examiners, and any other agency or board that regulates health care practitioners, shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

     4.  This act shall take effect 180 days following enactment.