New Jersey A 947: Changes deadline for submission of public questions from school board to county clerk for printing on ballot to 35 days before April school election.

Bill Text

A947 1R 

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 947 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblywoman ALIXON COLLAZOS-GILL

District 27 (Essex and Passaic)

Assemblyman� ANTHONY ANGELOZZI

District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Dunn, Assemblyman Venezia, Assemblywomen 
Flynn, Speight, Park, Peterpaul and Donlon

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires DOH to establish public awareness campaign 
and develop policies and procedures to promote recognition and treatment of 
perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As reported by the Assembly Health Committee on March 
9, 2026, with amendments.

��

An Act concerning perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 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.���� Perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 is a 
level of unhealthy distress that may be experienced by a woman either during 
pregnancy, or within the first year following childbirth.

���� b.��� According to the New 
Jersey Department of Health, approximately six percent of pregnant women and 10 
percent of postpartum women experience perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1, and 
this disorder can occur on its own or in conjunction with, or as a precursor 
to, symptoms of depression.

���� c.���� An untreated anxiety 
disorder can often put a person at increased risk for future problems with 
anxiety and depression, and there is a growing body of literature indicating 
that perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 may 
also affect pregnancy outcomes.

���� d.��� Symptoms of perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 range 
from mild to severe, and may include constant and uncontrollable worry, racing 
thoughts, mental rumination, foreboding thoughts or imagery, loss of appetite, 
sleep disturbance, irritability, edginess or an inability to sit still, muscle 
tension or twitching, back or neck pain, tightening of the chest or throat, 
shallow breathing, difficulty concentrating or focusing, forgetfulness, 
dizziness, increased heart rate, hot flashes, nausea, and panic attacks.

���� e.���� The symptoms of 
perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 not 
only reduce a woman�s ability to enjoy her pregnancy and childbirth 
experiences, but may also have a negative impact on a woman�s actions or 
behaviors, such as by causing the woman to: avoid certain situations, 
activities, places, or people; attempt to over-control situations; seek 
constant reassurance from others; engage in obsessive or compulsive behavior; 
or react with excessive vigilance in relation to potential or imagined dangers.

���� f.���� The exact causes of 
perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 are 
unknown, but various factors may contribute to development of this disorder, 
such as changes in hormone levels; a personal or family medical history that 
includes prior diagnoses for mental disorders or perinatal mood disorders; 
difficulties or complications with the current pregnancy or any prior 
pregnancies; a high-risk pregnancy or history of prior high-risk pregnancies; 
medical problems experienced by the mother, fetus, or infant child either 
before, or within the year after, childbirth; a lack of sleep; feelings of 
isolation or a perceived loss of freedom stemming from pregnancy or motherhood; 
the existence of perfectionist tendencies or personality traits; sudden changes 
in routine; or ordinary life stressors such as marital or financial problems.

���� g.��� Perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 can 
negatively impact the child and the child�s father, as well as the mother, 
since the mother may have exaggerated or irrational responses to real or 
imagined threats, may become reclusive or increasingly irritable, or may 
demonstrate symptoms that are otherwise detrimental to communication, or that 
promote feelings of anxiety in others.

���� h.��� Perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 may be 
dismissed by the woman suffering from the disorder, and by those around her, as 
ordinary maternal worry, or may be thought to be self-induced or 
self-controllable.

���� i.���� Perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 has 
been called �the hidden disorder� because, despite being more prevalent than 
postpartum depression, it is not generally discussed in perinatal consultations 
or in the public domain, and is not regularly studied by health care 
practitioners or research groups.

���� j.���� If early recognition 
and treatment are to occur, perinatal 1mood 
and1 
anxiety 1disorders1 should 
be discussed in childbirth classes and obstetrical office visits; pregnant 
women and new mothers should be screened for the disorder and encouraged to 
inform others of their symptoms in the same way as they wou