New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has signed legislation that establishes new criminal and civil penalties for certain forms of interference with access to abortion practices and gender reassignment surgeries. Critics have argued that the legislation paves the way for criminal cases to be brought against individuals who simply pray outside such facilities, which has happened in other state and federal districts.
The measure, designated S2260/A2218 and enacted as P.L.2026, c.74, expands existing state shield-law protections and creates the offense of “interference with reproductive health care services.” Under the statute, a person is guilty of the offense if the person purposely or knowingly:
(1) inflicts or attempts to inflict bodily injury on another person, with the purpose to unlawfully restrict another’s access to or receipt or provision of reproductive health care services or to intimidate the person from becoming or remaining a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant of reproductive health care services, if the conduct would cause a reasonable person to be intimidated;
(2) physically obstructs any person seeking to enter into or exit from a health care services facility, with the same purpose, if the conduct would cause a reasonable person to be intimidated;
(3) by force or threat of force, intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any person or entity because that person or entity is a reproductive health care services patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant, or in order to intimidate a person or entity, or a class of persons or entities, from becoming or remaining a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant of reproductive health care services; or
(4) damages, defaces, or destroys the property of a person, entity, or facility, or attempts to do so, because the person, entity, or facility provides, volunteers, assists with, or receives reproductive health care services. The law defines “intimidate” as placing a person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm to themselves or to another, and “physically obstruct” as rendering ingress or egress impassable or unreasonably difficult or hazardous.
Interference is classified as a crime of the fourth degree, punishable by up to 18 months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. It becomes a crime of the third degree if the victim suffers bodily injury and a crime of the second degree if the victim suffers significant or serious bodily injury.
The statute also authorizes civil actions by aggrieved individuals, who may seek injunctive relief, compensatory damages of at least $1,000 per violation, punitive damages upon proof of willful or reckless disregard, attorney’s fees, and other equitable relief. The Attorney General or a county or municipal prosecutor may bring civil actions for injunctions, compensatory damages, and civil penalties of up to $10,000 for a first violation and $25,000 for subsequent violations.
In addition to the interference provisions, the legislation expands New Jersey’s shield-law framework to cover “gender-affirming care.”
It restricts state entities from assisting certain out-of-state investigations or legal proceedings related to reproductive or gender-affirming health care that is lawful in New Jersey, protects patient information from unauthorized disclosure, and limits professional licensing boards and malpractice insurers from taking adverse actions solely on the basis of providing such care. The law took effect immediately upon signing.
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🚨 BREAKING: Outrage is erupting nationwide after New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) signed a law that could IMPRISON Christians that pray outside abortion facilities
This is INSANE! Strike it down!
MCENANY: “Some people could face 18 months in prison for simply praying outside… pic.twitter.com/qkbHpajo1I
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 22, 2026
“We have seen attacks from the Trump Administration and other states on access to reproductive and gender affirming healthcare, and attempts to impose restrictions across state borders. 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,” Governor Sherrill said after signing the legislation.
“With this legislation, we are making clear that New Jersey will protect patients, providers, and the fundamental freedom to make personal healthcare decisions.”
Critics of the measure, including organizations focused on opposing abortion, have expressed concern that the language regarding intimidation could be applied to peaceful activities outside facilities that provide the covered services.
“Because terms such as ‘threat,’ ‘intimidate,’ and ‘coerce’ are inherently subjective and rest on individual feelings, this language poses a serious danger to free speech. Peaceful sidewalk counseling, prayer, holding signs, or simply offering help and alternatives outside a facility can easily be labeled ‘intimidation’ by someone who claims to feel threatened, leaving pro-life advocates open to criminal charges that are difficult to disprove and chilling constitutionally protected expression,” said New Jersey Right to Life Executive Director Marie Tasy
