STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Peterpaul, Donlon, Assemblymen Tully and Karabinchak
SYNOPSIS
Establishes requirements to evaluate certain people who are pregnant and who have given birth for preeclampsia.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning preeclampsia 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. 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.
2. 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.), as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, and the State Board of Medical Examiners, and any other agency or board that regulates health care practitioners subject to the requirements of section 1 of this act, shall promulgate rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect 180 days following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill directs every birthing center licensed in the State, every federally qualified health center, and every 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 to 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, provided that 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 are to be based on best practices and guidance, as determined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or another nationally-recognized body.
Under the bill, these same entities providing the same types of care are required to, 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 the bill, unless the person declines to be evaluated; and
(3) upon receipt of the results of any evaluation conducted pursuant to the bill, 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.