New Jersey has a protective legislative landscape for transgender individuals. While anti-trans bills have been introduced (8 in 2023, 16 in 2024), none have been enacted. The state has instead advanced supportive measures, including executive orders and proposed shield bills to protect transgender healthcare access.
2023:
- Executive Order 326: Signed by Governor Phil Murphy, protects transgender healthcare access
2024:
- AR138: Declares June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
2026 (Proposed):
- Transgender Healthcare Shield Bill: Backed by Garden State Equality, Planned Parenthood, and ACLU-NJ, aiming for passage in early 2026 under incoming Governor Sherrill
- AJR64: Designates November as "Transgender Awareness Month" (Democrat-sponsored, introduced)
2023 (8 bills tracked):
- Education: Provisions to excuse students from health, family life, or sex education conflicting with parental moral/religious beliefs; bans on instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in K-5
- Healthcare: Bills implying restrictions on gender-affirming care (none enacted)
- Sports: Requirements for female teams to exclude male-sex students, with sex verified by physician statements
2024 (16 bills tracked):
- Similar categories as 2023: education, sports, healthcare
- No bills enacted
2025-2026:
- At least one anti-trans bill noted for 2026 on sports teams based on biological sex
- Specific counts unavailable in tracked data
Status: No anti-trans bills enacted in New Jersey as of April 2026.
| Name |
Party |
Chamber |
Key Actions |
| Gov. Phil Murphy |
D |
Governor |
Signed Executive Order 326 (2023) |
| Incoming Gov. Sherrill |
D |
Governor |
Expected to support Transgender Healthcare Shield Bill (2026) |
| Date |
Event |
| 2023 |
8 anti-trans bills tracked; Executive Order 326 signed |
| 2024 |
16 anti-trans bills tracked; AR138 (Pride Month) enacted |
| 2026 |
Transgender Healthcare Shield Bill proposed; AJR64 (Transgender Awareness Month) introduced |
- Trans Legislation Tracker 2024/NJ
- Garden State Equality - Shield Bill Update
- Trans Legislation Tracker 2023/NJ
- ACLU Legislative Attacks 2023
- LGBT Map - Healthcare Bans
- LegiScan - AJR64
- Track Legislation
- NJ Legislature - AR138
- Trans Legislation Tracker 2026/NJ
Last updated: 2026-04-02