ASSEMBLY AGING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION No. 109

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: MARCH 16, 2026

     The Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Joint Resolution No. 109.

     This resolution designates the month of April each year as “Donate Life Month” in the State of New Jersey. 

     As amended by the committee, the resolution honors those who have made the decision to give the gift of life to others and to encourage all New Jersey citizens to register as organ donors. Organ donation is a lifesaving service that can benefit thousands of New Jersey residents and their families. For example, it only takes one donor to save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others by their tissue and eye donation.  Transplants, however, are only available to those on the donor waitlist who are able to be matched based on blood and tissue type, organ size, medical urgency, waiting time, and geographic location. The rate at which people are added to the waitlist is greatly outpaced by the amount of people currently registered as organ donors. Consequentially, in America, at least 17 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant.  This is why it is important that all adult residents of New Jersey register to become organ donors as increasing the amount of eligible donors will alleviate the impact on those waiting for transplants in the State.

      New Jersey residents can register as an organ and tissue donors at their local Motor Vehicle Agency or through the National Donate Life Registry online. New Jersey has shown a commitment to providing high quality health care services regardless of whether someone is registered as an organ donor. There is much to be done still in closing the gap in the amount of available organs and those who are on the organ donor waitlist. 

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments update the year of reporting and the preamble to clarify that the Gift of Life Donor program reported statistics concerning organ donations.