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On Aug. 20, 2026, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed S2260/A2218 into law. According to its sponsors and the Governor’s office, the legislation is intended to strengthen New Jersey’s protections for individuals seeking, providing, or assisting with reproductive health care services. Among other provisions, it expands existing “shield law” protections, establishes new criminal offenses and civil remedies for certain interference with reproductive health care services, strengthens privacy protections, and provides additional protections against certain legal actions originating in other states.
The law defines reproductive health care services broadly, including medical, surgical, counseling, and referral services relating to the human reproductive system, including services relating to abortion, pregnancy, contraception, infertility, and termination of pregnancy. The law also addresses gender-affirming health care services.
Of particular importance to pro-life organizations and individuals is the new offense of “interference with reproductive health care services.” The law makes it a crime for a person to purposely or knowingly engage in specified conduct, including inflicting or attempting to inflict bodily injury, physically obstructing a person seeking to enter or leave a covered health care facility, intimidating, threatening, or coercing a person in specified circumstances, or damaging, defacing, or destroying property because of its connection to reproductive health care services. The offense is generally a fourth-degree crime, with increased penalties when the victim suffers bodily.
The law also creates a private civil cause of action for violations and authorizes the Attorney General, county prosecutors, and municipal prosecutors to seek civil remedies. Available remedies can include injunctive relief, compensatory damages, punitive damages in appropriate circumstances, attorney’s fees and litigation costs, and civil penalties.
Since the Governor signed S2260, several reports and media accounts have circulated claiming that the new law makes it illegal to hold protests or prayer vigils outside abortion facilities. That characterization is too broad. The law does not prohibit peaceful pro-life advocacy simply because it occurs outside a reproductive health care facility. Rather, it prohibits particular forms of conduct—such as physical obstruction, intimidation, threats, coercion, or property damage—when the statutory requirements are met.
This distinction is important. Peaceful prayer, peaceful protest, and respectful sidewalk counseling are not, by themselves, prohibited by S2260. At the same time, pro-life individuals and organizations must ensure that their activities do not cross the lines established by the new law or by other applicable federal, state, and local laws.
In very general terms, pro-life and affiliated groups should keep the following principles in mind:
Peaceful activities that may continue
- Standing and praying peacefully on public sidewalks, while remaining mindful of applicable laws governing access and pedestrian passage.
- Holding signs and engaging in peaceful expression.
- Offering literature or speaking with individuals in a respectful manner, while honoring a person’s decision not to engage in conversation and not following or pursuing someone who has declined.
- Conducting peaceful, stationary prayer vigils and demonstrations that do not physically obstruct access or otherwise engage in conduct prohibited by law.
Conduct that should be avoided
- Blocking driveways, entrances, or exits or otherwise making passage unreasonably difficult or hazardous.
- Physically obstructing or impeding the movement of patients, volunteers, providers, staff, or other persons.
- Threatening, intimidating, or coercing anyone, or engaging in conduct that falls within the law’s prohibition on such conduct.
- Using or threatening force or engaging in conduct intended to cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm.
- Damaging, defacing, or destroying property.
- Engaging in any other conduct that could constitute a violation of S2260 or another applicable law.
These guidelines should not be understood as an exhaustive statement of the law. The precise application of S2260 may depend on the facts and circumstances of a particular activity, including the location, manner of conduct, and intent of the individuals involved.
The New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC) is conducting a full legal review of this new law and its implications for pro-life activities. The NJCC will publish a one-page FAQ to assist dioceses, parishes, ministries, and other concerned organizations in responding appropriately to the legislation.
In the meantime, New Jersey dioceses are encouraged to review their existing pro-life practices and provide appropriate guidance to those participating in prayer vigils, sidewalk counseling, and other peaceful pro-life activities.
The Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage from conception to natural death remains unchanged and we continue to oppose policies, legislation and laws, including S2260, that expands access to abortion or otherwise conflicts with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person. That said, our Catholic pro-life witness should always be carried out peacefully, respectfully and in a charitable manner, ensuring our advocacy remains both faithful and effective.
James King
Executive Director, New Jersey Catholic Conference
Most Rev. David M. O’Connell, CM, JCD
Bishop of Trenton