Our Wins.
Learn more about New Jersey's recent legislative wins for reproductive freedom.
November 2023
New Jerseyans Choose Reproductive Freedom
Abortion was on the ballot, and voters understood the stakes. Across New Jersey, voters resoundingly sent a message: protect our reproductive freedom.
In key battleground districts, like districts 11 and 16, the candidates who proudly campaigned on their strong records and commitments of protecting and expanding access to reproductive health care have won their races. As election night has unfolded, candidates and analysts alike have agreed that abortion access was a key driver in votes for winning candidates.
June 2023
Medicaid Reimbursement Rates
In addition to once again including the family planning funding and grant programs established in the SFY2023 budget, the SFY2024 budget included historic funding intended to increase Medicaid rates for reproductive health care in New Jersey - the first increases in decades. Supporters took action for months to encourage the legislature to include this critical funding.
January 2023
Over the Counter Birth Control
Governor Murphy signed S275/A4149, authorizing over-the-counter birth control availability statewide. Making birth control available over the counter ensures that contraception is more accessible to all people in New Jersey. New Jersey continues to move forward by removing barriers and increasing access to contraception.
January 2023
DOBI Regulations
After hundreds of supporters submitted public comments, The Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) began implementing a regulation requiring coverage for abortion in all state-regulated insurance plans. Notably, this does not include coverage for the State Health Benefits Plans - the health plans state workers are on - as they are regulated by a different agency.
September 2022
Inclusive Sex Education
Public schools across New Jersey began implementing the new standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The new standards were more comprehensive than years’ past, including more topics relating to LGBTQ+ identities and consent.
June 2022
Historic Funding in the SFY2023 Budget
In addition to increasing funding for family planning services, the legislature included additional funding streams in the budget in the form of grants for reproductive health providers. The new grant programs fund facilities improvements, security needs, and training the new generation of reproductive health providers.
June 2022
Additional Legal Protections for Abortion
After the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, the legislature passed two bills to protect people seeking abortion in New Jersey. The first bill bars the extradition of people seeking abortion in NJ. The second bill protects people seeking abortion in NJ from states where it is illegal, protects health information from being distributed from centers in NJ, and protects the licenses of abortion providers.
January 2022
12 Month Supply of Birth Control
The Governor signed legislation that permits prescriptions for birth control to be filled for 12 months at a time, instead of the traditional three-month allocation. Removing barriers to access reproductive health is critical to making sure everyone can get the care that is best for them.
January 2022
Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act
After years of tireless advocacy alongside the Thrive NJ coalition, hundreds of calls, meetings, and letters from supporters, and countless rallies across the state, the legislature passed and the Governor signed historic legislation codifying abortion rights in New Jersey statute. The bill also directed DOBI to study the impacts of insurance coverage of abortion. Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey was thrilled that this legislation passed. It is a great first step to ensuring that everyone has the right to access abortion in New Jersey.
November 2021
Expanding Pool of Providers
After collaboration with Planned Parenthood providers and policy experts, the Board of Medical Examiners (BME) updated regulations to allow Advanced Practice Clinicians (Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Certified Midwives) to provide abortion care.
The BME also overturned additional medically unnecessary regulations that did not contribute to the provision of high-quality patient care. As staffing shortages across the healthcare field persist, allowing trained and qualified providers to provide care is critical to expanding access to reproductive health care.
October 2021
Expanding Medicaid Coverage
New Jersey became the second state in the nation to expand Medicaid coverage to 365 days postpartum. Providing Medicaid to 365 days postpartum helps improve maternal and infant mortality and helps decrease racial disparities in birth outcomes.
January 2020
Emergency Funding
When Planned Parenthood affiliates in New Jersey were forced out of the federal Title X program due to the introduction of the Trump-Pence administration’s unethical “gag rule,” which prohibited family planning providers from providing referrals for, or even discussing, abortion care with their patients, the New Jersey legislature stepped in to provide emergency funding for lifesaving family planning services at Planned Parenthood and other providers who were also forced out of Title X.
The Biden Administration has since eliminated the gag rule and many providers have been able to reenter the only federal program that funds reproductive healthcare services.
February 2018
Restoring Family Planning Funding
After eight consecutive years of the Christie Administration completely eliminating funding for reproductive health services, Governor Murphy’s first act in office was to restore family planning funding across the state.
These funds are allocated to support access to family planning and other preventive health services, including lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, breast health services, Pap tests, and other health screenings.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey never took the foot off the pedal: throughout the Christie administration, advocates “pinked out” the state house, testified, and rallied in support of restoring family planning funding. PPAFNJ is immensely grateful Governor Murphy prioritized funding family planning at the start of his administration.
