Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a bill Aug. 20 intended to protect transgender and reproductive healthcare patients and their providers.
Sherrill addressed supporters outside Planned Parenthood in Montclair before signing the bill, an earlier version of which died in the last legislative session, was reintroduced and earlier this summer passed the Legislature. The governor thanked lawmakers and advocates responsible for the measure and said the state is “always on the forefront of so much.”
“Everyone who’s raised their voices and joined us in this fight to protect the rights of so many people here in New Jersey when we know they’re under attack across this nation,” Sherrill said.
LGBTQ+ civil rights organization Garden State Equality said in a news release that after years of advocacy work, many stalls in progress and an increase of “attacks” on gender-affirming care across the country, as of today New Jersey is one of “16 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to enshrine a shield law to protect both gender affirming and reproductive healthcare in the state.”
GSE, alongside the Transgender Rights Coalition of New Jersey, Planned Parenthood and many other organizations that seek to protect New Jersey residents and non-residents alike from any legal retaliation for seeking gender-affirming or reproductive care have been instrumental in pushing the legislation forward.
Out in Jersey Media has reported extensively on S2260/A2218’s journey from introduction, delays and finally to being signed by the governor. The signing was livestreamed and is available to watch on YouTube.
The bill was passed by the Legislature earlier this summer as conservative states have moved to restrict and even criminalize trans and reproductive healthcare. The new law outlines protections for recipients of gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare, and shields them, as well as healthcare providers from out-of-state prosecution.
“It confirms doctors should pursue evidence-based medicine without fear of politically-motivated prosecution from other states and the new law reinforces the primacy of provider-patient confidentiality,” GSE said in the release.
Kaitlyn Wojtowicz, executive director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey called this day “historic,” saying in a statement that “twenty states across the country ban or severely restrict access to abortion. With this signing, New Jersey is standing up as a beacon of hope for reproductive health care across the country.”
The law among other things will shield patients seeking trans and reproductive healthcare and their providers from states looking to prosecute. For example, a grand jury in Louisiana, which has a near-total ban on abortion, indicted a New York doctor in January 2025, alleging the physician provided abortion medication through the mail to a mother’s minor daughter.
The mother also found herself in legal trouble due to the incident. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul rejected Louisiana’s demand that the doctor be extradited, citing the Empire State’s shield law, much like the measure New Jersey has now codified.
Natalie Baker, of TRC-NJ said in a statement that “the care this law protects is safe, evidence based, and can mean the difference between a childhood spent thriving and one spent in distress. Today, New Jersey makes clear that medical decisions stay where they belong: with patients, families and doctors.”
The Bayard Rustin Center For Social Justice, an organization that advocates for minority and marginalized groups including the LGBTQ+ community, said in a statement: “This law makes it illegal to interfere with reproductive or gender affirming healthcare for queer folx in the state of New Jersey & sets an inspirational example for the rest of the nation to follow suit. At a time when the federal government is threatening patients & providers, particularly those in our LGBTQIA+ community, we are thankfully relieved & further empowered to have the support & feel the respect of so many dedicated allies.”
In a news release from her office, Sherrill said: “Here in New Jersey, we are standing firm in defense of reproductive freedoms — including the right to choose and the right to receive gender-affirming care.
“No one should fear intimidation or violence for seeking healthcare, and no healthcare professional should fear punishment from another state for providing care that is legal in New Jersey. With this legislation, we are making clear that New Jersey will protect patients, providers, and the fundamental freedom to make personal healthcare decisions.”
Update: This story has been updated with additional comments from Sherrill.
