TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Sunday that shifts New Jersey’s vaccine guidance away from federal recommendations and requires insurers to cover immunizations recommended by the state Department of Health without cost-sharing.
The measure, S4894/A6166, replaces statutory references to recommendations from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices with references to guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health. Administration officials said the change is meant to keep the state’s immunization policies “state-based” and rooted in evidence.
“This year, we have seen the federal government diverge and waffle on evidence-based recommendations from trusted health professionals – rewriting federal vaccine guidance to the detriment of our communities and putting our most vulnerable residents at risk, particularly our children,” Murphy said. “We take seriously our responsibility to preserve and protect public health, which is why we have mobilized quickly to mitigate the harmful impact of these dangerous policy changes. Today’s bill signing is yet another action by our Administration to provide equitable access to vaccines, achieve community protection, and build sustained trust in vaccinations.”
The law directs the Department of Health, as appropriate, to consider recommendations not only from ACIP but also from organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American College of Physicians.
It also requires health insurers and health benefit plans — including plans regulated by the Department of Banking and Insurance, NJ FamilyCare, the State Health Benefits Plan and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Plan — to provide coverage for immunizations recommended by the state Department of Health without cost-sharing.
“At the Department of Health, we are doing everything in our power to protect public health and to keep our vaccination infrastructure safe, effective, and based solely on evidence and science. Everyone is encouraged to stay up to date on vaccines to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown. “Over the past year, we have seen that ACIP’s recommendations are not reliably aligned with evidence-based recommendations from trusted health care professionals and risk causing major harm, especially to children. This act will ensure that vaccination policy in our state is guided by the best available science, safeguards children and families, and restores trust in our public health system. I commend the sponsors of this legislation for their tireless advocacy in support of expanding vaccine access and coverage.”
Banking and Insurance Commissioner Justin Zimmerman said the law is intended to preserve no-cost coverage for recommended vaccines regardless of federal actions.
“Under the Murphy Administration, New Jersey has been guided by the principle that health care is a right and not a privilege. This new law builds on the actions undertaken over the last eight years to improve access to health care for our residents. It ensures that health insurers continue to provide coverage for vaccines that are recommended by the New Jersey Department of Health without the barrier of cost-sharing, regardless of actions on the federal level,” Zimmerman said. “This action is critical to providing access to vaccines that will protect the health and well-being of residents in our state over the long-term.”
Separately, state health officials said a comprehensive update to N.J.A.C. 8:57 — the state’s communicable disease rules — will be adopted Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in the New Jersey Register. The revised rule is intended to modernize reporting requirements, update procedures for the New Jersey Immunization Information System, and align vaccination standards for schools and institutions of higher education with current public health practices, according to the administration. Officials said the update does not add new vaccination requirements for school attendance.
Sponsors of the legislation include Sens. Joseph Vitale and Andrew Zwicker and Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, according to the administration.
“New Jersey families and health care providers rely on consistent, evidence-based vaccine guidance,” Vitale said. “This legislation ensures our standards remain rooted in medical expertise, even as federal policy becomes less predictable. Recent actions, including the federal move to weaken longstanding Hepatitis B vaccine guidance, show how quickly national recommendations can shift without clear evidence or clinical consensus. New Jersey should not be dependent on abrupt changes that could undermine confidence in immunizations. By empowering the Department of Health to consider the full spectrum of expert recommendations, we are building a more resilient and dependable vaccine policy for our state.”
Zwicker called the legislation a safeguard against rising skepticism and shifting federal policy.
“New Jersey is acting to ensure that decisions about immunization schedules are informed by scientific consensus and developed by medical experts with the best interests of our residents at heart,” Zwicker said. “As we see a dramatic rise in vaccine skepticism and changes at the federal level that will result in the widespread contraction of preventable diseases, we are ensuring that families have access to evidence-based vaccine recommendations by our Department of Health and are able to obtain them without major cost barriers.”
“When it comes to childhood immunizations, families deserve clarity and confidence,” said Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, chair of the Assembly Health Committee. “This bill will ensure New Jersey can rely on trusted, evidence-based guidance from our public health experts so children can continue to receive recommended vaccines without unnecessary barriers.”
The announcement drew support from health care and labor groups, including the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, the New Jersey Association of Health Plans and the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.
“Thank you to Governor Murphy, Senators Vitale and Zwicker, and Assemblywoman Murphy for their steadfast protection of patients by ensuring continued coverage for life-saving, science-backed vaccines,” said Chrissy Buteas, President and CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ). “Vaccines are the safest and most cost-effective ways to keep children and adults healthy and out of hospitals, and New Jersey’s patients, families and our public health system will benefit from their leadership.”
“This legislation is a critical step in protecting New Jersey families by ensuring continued access to lifesaving immunization,” said Dr. Eddy A. Bresnitz, adjunct professor of epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health, and former New Jersey deputy commissioner of Health and COVID-19 medical advisor to the Murphy Administration. “By aligning insurance coverage with Department of Health recommendations grounded in the best available science, New Jersey is strengthening public health and safeguarding residents from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
“With public health under attack, these are vital, proactive steps to ensure our residents can obtain the vaccinations they need to protect their health,” said Heather Howard, Professor of the Practice, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and former Commissioner, NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. “New Jersey continues to lead in providing science-backed guidance and adopting policies to preserve access to lifesaving vaccines and keep kids healthy.”
“NJAHP’s member health plans are committed to maintaining and ensuring affordable access to routine preventive vaccines at no cost to members,” said Wardell Sanders, President, New Jersey Association of Health Plans. “While health plans operate within a framework shaped by federal and state laws, as well as program and customer requirements, their evidence-based approach to immunization coverage remains consistent.”
“We are very supportive of these important changes and look forward to working with the State and health care providers to make sure that people have access to science-based recommendations and these critical life-saving vaccines,” said Linda Schwimmer, President and CEO of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.
