The full New Jersey State Legislature will vote today on A6260/S49, a bill that would codify the existing right to abortion for New Jerseyans currently protected by state case law. The ACLU-NJ supports A6260/S49 because it provides statutory protection of the right to access an abortion. However, the bill does not expand abortion access by reducing out-of-pocket costs for all New Jerseyans, including those ineligible for health insurance, such as undocumented community members. The ACLU-NJ calls on the Legislature and the Governor to prioritize equity and urgently exercise their power to achieve these goals in statute and through agency action, respectively.
The following statement can be attributed to ACLU-NJ Policy Director Sarah Fajardo:
“The bill takes the important step of affirming New Jerseyans’ legal protections for the right to an abortion and reproductive autonomy – but at a time when reproductive freedom is on the line, we need to guarantee that abortion is not just legal, but accessible. To meaningfully protect the right to abortion and ensure equitable access, we must go beyond the status quo and guarantee that abortion is affordable for all New Jerseyans, regardless of insurance access, immigration status, or income. Without addressing the systemic barriers rooted in white supremacy and xenophobia that keep essential health care out of reach for so many, the right to an abortion remains one that many New Jerseyans struggle to access.”
