New Jersey Bill Mandates Perinatal Anxiety Screening and Public Awareness Campaign

Original title: Requires DOH to establish public awareness campaign and develop policies and procedures to promote recognition and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.*

Last action · May 4, 2026: Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens CommitteeSponsors: Carol Murphy and 9 others

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What This Bill Would Do

Assembly Bill 947 requires healthcare professionals and birthing facilities in New Jersey to provide information and mandatory screenings for to pregnant and postpartum women. The New Jersey Department of Health must also establish a public awareness campaign subject to sufficient funding. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Why it matters

Expectant and new mothers in New Jersey will undergo routine screenings for during each trimester and postnatal checkups, while healthcare providers and birthing facilities must distribute educational materials to patients and their families.

Background

Perinatal anxiety encompasses unhealthy distress experienced during pregnancy or within the first year following childbirth. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Pregnant women and new mothers

Will receive mandatory screenings for perinatal anxiety and educational materials during prenatal and postnatal care visits.

Directly affected

Physicians and nurse midwives

Must provide educational information to patients and family members and perform scheduled screenings for perinatal anxiety.

Directly affected

Birthing facilities

Must provide departing new parents and family members with information regarding perinatal anxiety symptoms and treatment resources.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often will pregnant women be screened for perinatal anxiety under this bill?

Prenatal patients must be screened for at least once during each trimester of pregnancy.

What screening tool does the bill recommend?

The bill authorizes the use of the or another test approved by the Commissioner of Health.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

4 actions

May 4, 2026SenateCommittee
Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
Mar 23, 2026HouseFloor
Passed by the Assembly (69-2-0)
Mar 9, 2026House
Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading
Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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