On Thursday, August 20, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Bill A2218/S2260 into law, strengthening protections for providers and patients seeking reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. The law creates criminal penalties for individuals who physically block access to healthcare facilities providing reproductive or transgender healthcare or intentionally intimidate people seeking care. Those who cause serious bodily harm could face 18 months to five years in prison, while survivors and the state may also pursue civil action.
New Jersey now joins the 23 states and Washington DC, that have adopted shield laws protecting reproductive healthcare and/or gender-affirming care. The legislation, which passed the New Jersey legislature in late June, also expands confidentiality protections for patients and providers and prevents New Jersey from extraditing individuals facing out-of-state investigations related to reproductive or gender-affirming healthcare.
The bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate by Democratic Party-line votes of 55 to 23 and 25 to 15, respectively.
The law comes at a time when access to both reproductive rights and gender-affirming care face increasing restrictions across the country. State Sen. Teressa Ruiz described New Jersey as a “beacon of hope for everyone who understands democracy,” emphasizing the importance of protecting healthcare access despite growing opposition at the federal level.
In 2025, the Department of Justice not only pardoned offenders who violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, but also has refused to enforce violations of the statute. Instead, the DOJ has said the statute is a “prototypical example” of the “weaponization of law enforcement against conservatives.”
The FACE Act, signed into law in 1994, was enacted to respond to the rising violence against abortion providers and clinics. Since the Dobbs decision, its consistent application across state lines remains crucial. The FACE Act remains under attack, even though it has been proven effective in preventing violence against abortion providers and clinics.
The erosion of federal protections makes state-level safeguards increasingly important. While New Jersey’s new law provides meaningful protections for patients and healthcare providers, access to reproductive and gender-affirming care remains under threat across the country.
New Jersey’s action demonstrates the importance of states using their authority to protect healthcare access and bodily autonomy. But as attacks on reproductive and transgender rights continue, protecting these rights will require sustained action at every level of government.
