New Jersey

Overview of New Jersey law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state.

Law

• No law has been enacted to authorize installation of baby boxes in New Jersey

Sponsor:

Actions:

Legislation

See appropriate Legislative Year page for details on each bill. 2025 is here; links to other years on that page.

2025

• Bill carried over from 2024.

2024

• A1181  This bill has been introduced the last few sessions of the legislature. Amends New Jersey safe haven law to authorize use of “newborn safety devices.” Requires newly constructed police stations, fire stations, and hospitals to provide “newborn safety device.” Eliminates requirement that facility be staffed 24/7 in order to qualify for an affirmative defense so long as the infant is left with with an adult employee or newborn safety device.

2023

• A 2671 Back again! Requires newly constructed police stations, fire stations, and hospitals to provide a “newborn safety device.” Allows affirmative defense to prosecution for abandonment if parents leave child in baby box. Carry-over from 2022. Pending

2021

• Carry-over from 2020 Sine die

2020

• A3378:  Requires newly constructed police stations, fire stations and hospitals to provide newborn safety device; allows affirmative defense for box abandonment. Carried over to 2021.
• S2525 -Companion to A3378. Carried over to 2021
• Carry-over from 2018.  Dead. Sine Die.

2018

• A4479: Requires newly constructed police stations, fire stations and hospitals to provide newborn safety device; allows affirmative defense for box abandonment. Carried over to 2019.
• S3005: Companion to A4479. Carried over to 2019

Hearings/Testimony/Letters

None to date.

News and Commentary

Updated February 6, 2024