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Bill > A2290


NJ A2290

NJ A2290
Permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
01/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
01/13/2026

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill permits individuals to establish voluntary nonopioid directives. Under the bill, an individual who is 18 years of age or older, an emancipated minor, or a patient's authorized representative, as this term is defined in the bill, may execute a voluntary nonopioid directive stating that an opioid may not be administered or prescribed to the individual. A voluntary nonopioid directive is to be made on a form that is to be developed by the Department of Health and published on the department's Internet website. Nothing in the bill is to prevent an opioid from being administered or prescribed to a patient if deemed medically necessary. A health care professional, a health care facility, or an employee of a health care professional or health care facility is to be immune from disciplinary action by the Department of Health or a licensing agency or board for any act that was done to comply with the bill's provisions. Further, a health care professional, a health care facility, or an employee of a health care professional or health care facility is to be immune from any civil or criminal liability for failure to administer, prescribe, or dispense an opioid, and for the intentional or inadvertent administration of an opioid, to an individual who has a voluntary nonopioid directive, if the act or the failure was reasonable and done in good faith.

AI Summary

This bill allows individuals aged 18 or older, emancipated minors, or their authorized representatives (defined as someone appointed to manage healthcare, like a parent, guardian, or court-appointed individual) to create a "voluntary nonopioid directive," which is a formal statement refusing the administration or prescription of opioids. This directive must be made on a specific form developed and published online by the Department of Health, and it can be revoked at any time. While this directive prevents the use of opioids, it does not prohibit them if a healthcare professional deems them medically necessary. The bill also provides legal protection, granting immunity from disciplinary actions, civil liability, and criminal charges to healthcare professionals, facilities, and their employees for actions taken in good faith to comply with these directives, including the failure to provide opioids or the accidental administration of them. The Department of Health is tasked with publicizing information about these directives and ensuring they are entered into patients' electronic health records.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (13)

Last Action

Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2025, c.383. (on 01/13/2026)

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