Requires DOH to provide grants for women's health research and innovations.

A4708

ASSEMBLY, No. 4708

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 16, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires DOH to provide grants for women's health
research and innovations.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning women�s health and amending P.L.2001,
c.376.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� Section 2 of P.L.2001,
c.376 (C.26:1A-124) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� There is established the
Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health.

���� The office shall:

���� a.���� Provide grants to
organizations
including, but not limited to,
community-based organizations
and small
businesses
to
advance innovation and
conduct
[
special
]
research
[
,
]

and

demonstration
[
,
]
and
evaluation projects
[
on
]

concerning

women's health
[
concerns
]

including,
but not limited to:

����
(1)� research aimed at
expanding knowledge and data collection of women�s health across their
lifespans, which includes the study and analysis of conditions specific to
women, conditions that disproportionately impact women, and conditions associated
with women�s midlife health or that are more likely to occur after menopause,
and the treatment of these conditions;

����
(2)� research that promotes
collaboration across fields and areas of expertise, addresses health
disparities and inequities affecting women, and supports the translation of
research advancements into improved health outcomes;

����
(3)� projects that would develop
and strengthen research and data standards concerning women�s health;

����
(4)� projects that would
use innovation funds, challenges, prizes, and other mechanisms to spur
innovation in women�s health; and

����
(5)� investments in
innovation to accelerate women�s health research including, but not limited to,
investments in: �translational science to convert research findings and
discoveries into treatments; interventions that improve women�s health outcomes
and reduce health disparities; and the use of artificial intelligence to
support research on women�s health;

���� b.��� Develop and implement
model public and private partnerships throughout the State for health awareness
campaigns and to improve the access, acceptability, and use of public health
services;

���� c.���� Serve as an information
and resource center for women's health information and data;

���� d.��� Function as an advocate
for the adoption and implementation of effective measures to improve women's
health;

���� e.���� Convene such task
forces of experienced, knowledgeable persons on specific women's health issues
as the director deems appropriate; and

���� f.���� Review the programs of
the Departments of Health, Human Services, Children and Families, and Education
and any other department of State government, as appropriate, that concern
women's health and make recommendations to the departments that will enable them
to better coordinate and improve the effectiveness of their efforts.

(cf: P.L.2012, c.17, s.106)

���� 2.� This act shall take effect
immediately.

STATEMENT

���� The bill revises the duties of
the Office of Women�s Health (office) in the Department of Health to provide
that the office is to provide grants to organizations, including, but not
limited to, community-based organizations and small businesses, to advance
innovation and to conduct research and demonstration and evaluation projects
concerning women's health.�

���� At a minimum, the grants
provided under the bill can be used for: �(1) research aimed at expanding
knowledge and data collection of women�s health across their lifespans, which
includes the study and analysis of conditions specific to women, conditions
that disproportionately impact women, and conditions associated with women�s
midlife health or that are more likely to occur after menopause, and the
treatment of these conditions; (2) research that promotes collaboration across
fields and areas of expertise, addresses health disparities and inequities
affecting women, and supports the translation of research advancements into
improved health outcomes; (3)� projects that would develop and strengthen
research and data standards concerning women�s health; (4) projects that would
use innovation funds, challenges, prizes, and other mechanisms to spur
innovation in women�s health; and (5) investments in innovation to accelerate
women�s health research including, but not limited to, investments in
translational science to convert research findings and discoveries into
treatments and interventions that improve women�s health outcomes and reduce
health disparities.