New Jersey Bill Would Criminalize Pro-Life Free Speech

I am writing to you today with a sense of deep urgency.

This Thursday, May 28, the New Jersey Senate is scheduled to vote on S2260 — and we need every member of our network to act before that vote is called.

This is not an ordinary abortion bill. S2260 would criminalize peaceful pro-life speech and advocacy, impose crushing financial penalties on individuals and organizations that speak publicly about abortion or gender transition providers, strip medical licensing boards of any authority over abortion providers, and transform New Jersey into a sanctuary state that actively refuses to cooperate with the laws of every other state in the nation.

We have prepared the attached action alert with key facts about this bill. Please read it, make your call today, and forward this email to every pro-life contact you have.

Our senators need to hear from us before Thursday morning. Time is short. Your voice matters.

🚨 URGENT ACTION ALERT — VOTE IS THIS THURSDAY 🚨

Oppose NJ Senate Bill S2260

Bill: Senate Committee Substitute for S2260

Sponsors: Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (D-29), Senator Nicholas P. Scutari (D-22), and 17 co-sponsors

Status: SENATE FLOOR VOTE THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026

WHAT THIS BILL DOES

S2260 weaponizes state law against the pro-life and pro-family movements, shields abortion and gender transition services from accountability, and turns New Jersey into a sanctuary designed to obstruct every other state in the nation.

It criminalizes pro-life and pro-family speech. Section 5 creates a new crime — “interference with reproductive health care services” — that includes causing “damage to the person’s business or personal reputation … or emotional harm” to anyone connected to an abortion or gender transition provider. Truthful public speech about these providers could be prosecuted. Because the bill explicitly includes gender identity services within its definition of “reproductive health care services,” this speech ban applies equally to those who publicly question abortion and those who publicly criticize clinics offering puberty blockers or gender transition procedures to minors. Sidewalk counselors, crisis pregnancy center staff, bloggers, parents who speak out, and clergy are all at risk.

It imposes devastating financial penalties. Anyone found liable faces a minimum of $1,000 per violation, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and AG-enforced civil penalties up to $10,000 for a first offense and $25,000 for each subsequent offense. This is designed to bankrupt individuals and organizations that speak out.

It removes medical oversight of abortion and gender transition providers. Medical licensing boards would be stripped of authority to discipline providers for any “reproductive health care activity.” No other category of medical procedure receives this blanket immunity.

It extends all protections to abortion and gender transition services — including for minors. The bill explicitly covers “supplies, care, and services … to support a person’s alignment with their gender identity or expression.” Anyone who brings a minor child to New Jersey for an abortion or gender transition intervention that would be illegal in their home state could not be prosecuted, extradited, or even investigated with New Jersey’s cooperation. This would include sex traffickers, sexual predators and other bad actors.

It makes New Jersey a rogue sanctuary state. Sections 8–11 direct NJ courts and law enforcement to refuse subpoenas, block search warrants, and reject extradition requests from other states and the federal government — for both abortion and gender transition cases. A family court in another state trying to protect a minor from an irreversible procedure could not obtain records or testimony from New Jersey. Section 11 declares every other state’s restrictions on these procedures “against the public policy of New Jersey.” This is nullification, and it will cost taxpayers millions in litigation.

Building on existing NJ statutes, this bill layers new criminal penalties and sanctuary protections on a framework that already treats the unlimited destruction of a child in the womb up to birth as routine medical care.

ACT NOW — BEFORE THURSDAY

CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR TODAY

To find your State Senator, visit the Legislature page HERE and search by your municipality.

What to say: “I am a constituent from [town]. Please vote NO on S2260 this Thursday. It criminalizes pro-life and pro-family speech, removes medical oversight of abortion and gender transition providers, and turns New Jersey into a sanctuary that blocks other states from protecting their residents — including minors. Please vote NO.”

CALL THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

(609) 292-6000 — Urge a veto if the bill passes.

SHARE THIS ALERT TODAY

Forward to your parish, congregation, pro-life network, and family. Every call to a Senate office before Thursday matters.

LifeNews.com Note: Marie Tasy is the executive director of New Jersey Right to Life.