Bill
Bill > A906
NJ A906
NJ A906Requires New Jersey licensure of physicians, dentists, and other health professionals serving as expert witnesses in malpractice cases; requires dentists serving as expert witnesses to comply with certain requirements for expert testimony.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Current law, set out in N.J.S.A.2A:53A-41, requires that all persons testifying as expert witnesses in medical malpractice actions must be licensed in the United States as physicians or other health care professionals and meet certain criteria concerning their medical specialties and experience. These requirements also apply to all persons providing an affidavit on the appropriate standard of care in medical malpractice cases. This affidavit is known informally as a "certificate of merit." Pursuant to N.J.S.A.2A:53A-26 et seq., any plaintiff bringing a suit for medical malpractice case must file a certificate of merit, signed by an appropriate physician or other health care professional, within a certain time frame. This bill provides that: (1) physicians and other health care professionals who testify as expert witnesses in medical malpractice actions and provide certificates of merit must be licensed in New Jersey; and (2) in dental malpractice actions, dentists who testify as expert witnesses would also be required to be licensed in New Jersey, and to comply with statutory criteria concerning their specialties and experience.
AI Summary
This bill requires that any physician, dentist, or other health professional serving as an expert witness in a New Jersey medical or dental malpractice lawsuit, or providing a "certificate of merit" (an affidavit confirming a reasonable probability of malpractice), must be licensed in New Jersey, not just in the United States. It also clarifies that dentists providing expert testimony in dental malpractice cases must meet specific criteria regarding their specialties and experience, similar to those already required for physicians, and expands the recognized dental specialty boards to include the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards. The bill aims to ensure that expert witnesses in malpractice cases have a direct connection to the state's healthcare system and are qualified to testify on New Jersey's professional standards.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A906 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A1000/906_I1.HTM |
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