Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in international public health, the official text

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4075

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  STERLEY S. STANLEY

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblywoman  MARGIE DONLON, M.D.

District 11 (Monmouth)

Senator  JOSEPH F. VITALE

District 19 (Middlesex)

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Speight, Senator Mukherji, Assemblymen
Freiman and Wainstein

SYNOPSIS

Authorizes DOH to establish partnerships in
international public health.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As reported by the Senate Health, Human Services and
Senior Citizens Committee on May 11, 2026, with amendments.

An Act concerning public health collaboration and
supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.

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

1.  The Legislature finds and
declares that:

a.  Emerging infectious
diseases and public health emergencies pose significant risks to the health,
safety, and economic stability of the residents of this State.

b.  On January 20, 2025,
President Trump issued Executive Order 14155, “Withdrawing the United States
from the World Health Organization,” and formally exited the organization on
January 22, 2026.  The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948 with
the mission to act as a coordinating authority on international public health
issues and emergencies.  The United States has been actively engaged with WHO
throughout its history.  Withdrawal from this organization leaves a void in
world health leadership, endangering the safety and wellbeing of billions of
people.

c.  In 2025, the State
established its first official Public Health Institute within the Center for
Health Equity and Wellbeing to strengthen public health systems through
innovation and collaboration.  The State also joined the multi-state Governors’
Public Health Alliance and the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, which
work to protect public health and facilitate communication and coordination
across state lines to address shared public health challenges.

d.  New Jersey’s strategic
location, combined with investments in transportation infrastructure, make the
State a vital gateway for commerce and travel, connecting nearly 60 million
consumers annually.  Therefore, rapid detection, information‑sharing, and
coordinated response are critical to preventing and mitigating outbreaks of
infectious disease.

e.  The WHO’s Global Outbreak
Alert and Response Network is a well‑established international technical
collaboration that links public health agencies, laboratories, academic
institutions, and response organizations to strengthen global outbreak
preparedness and response.

f.  Participation in the
Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network does not bind the State or the
United States to international legal obligations.

g.  Authorizing the New Jersey
Department of Health to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and
Response Network and other initiatives in international public health will
enhance the State’s capacity for outbreak preparedness, situational awareness,
workforce development, and coordination with domestic and international
partners.

2.  As used in this act:

“Department” means the
Department of Health.

“Global Outbreak Alert and
Response Network” means the World Health Organization’s coordinated network of
institutions, including public health agencies, academic centers, laboratories,
and response organizations, that collaborate on detecting, verifying, and
responding to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies globally.

"Public health
emergency" means an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health
condition that is believed to be caused by bioterrorism, an epidemic or
pandemic disease, or a novel or highly infectious agent that poses a
substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of
permanent or long‑term disability.

3.  a.  The
Department of Health is authorized 1[and directed]
to take all reasonable and appropriate steps to seek participation in the
Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network.

b.  To carry out the purposes
of subsection a. of this section, the department may:

(1) Communicate and coordinate
with the World Health Organization and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response
Network operational support team;

(2) Submit expressions of
interest, applications, or other documentation required for participation;

(3) Designate one or more
offices, divisions, or programs within the department to serve as points of
contact for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network related activities;

(4) Participate in technical
consultations, trainings, exercises, and information‑sharing activities
consistent with the mission of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network;
and

(5) Collaborate with federal,
State, local, academic, and nonprofit partners, as appropriate, to support
outbreak preparedness and response activities.

4.  a.  Nothing in this act
shall be construed to:

(1) establish membership of
the State in the World Health Organization;

(2) authorize the department
to enter into any agreement or undertaking that conflicts with federal law or
the United States Constitution;

(3) permit the disclosure of
confidential or personally identifiable health information except as otherwise
authorized by State or federal law; or

(4) require the expenditure of
funds beyond those appropriated or otherwise made available to the department.

5.  a.  The Commissioner of
Health, within 18 months following the effective date of this act 1and
subject to the availability of funds1
, shall submit a report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991,
c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

b.  The report shall include a
description of actions taken by the Department of Health to pursue
participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, the status of
the department’s participation in, or application to, the Global Outbreak Alert
and Response Network, a summary of any benefits, challenges, or resource needs
identified through such participation or application, and any recommendations
for further legislative or administrative action, including 1,1 but not
limited to 1,1
participation in other international public health initiatives, as appropriate.

c.  The department shall post
the report required pursuant to this section on its Internet website.

6.  This act shall take effect
immediately.