New Jersey A 4185: Establishes counseling program for eligible family members of active duty military members and disabled veterans.

Bill Text

A4185 

ASSEMBLY, No. 4185 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� 

Requires certain doctors and nurses to ask patients 
questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock 
syndrome. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning toxic shock syndrome and supplementing Title 
26 of the Revised Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this 
section: 

���� �Nurse practitioner" 
means a licensed nurse practitioner who practices nursing the following areas: 
family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology.

���� �Physician" means a 
physician licensed pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes who practices 
family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology.

���� b.��� A nurse practitioner or 
physician shall ask each female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated 
with influenza or viral gastroenteritis if the patient has an active menstrual 
cycle or the date of the last menstrual cycle if the female patient does not 
have an active menstrual cycle at the time of the medical visit.

���� c.���� A nurse practitioner or 
physician shall ask a female patient with an active menstrual cycle or a 
recently active menstrual cycle, as determined pursuant to subsection b. of 
this section, when the patient most recently used a tampon and if the patient 
experienced symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while 
using the tampon or soon thereafter.

���� d.��� A nurse practitioner or 
physician shall inform a female patient who is exhibiting symptoms associated 
with influenza or viral gastroenteritis about signs and symptoms of menstrual 
toxic shock syndrome.� 

���� e.���� A nurse practitioner or 
physician shall offer to test a female patient for toxic shock syndrome if: 

���� (1)�� the patient is 
exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis; 

���� (2)�� the patient has an 
active or recently active menstrual cycle as determined pursuant to subsection 
b. of this section; and

���� (3)�� the patient began 
experiencing symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while 
using a tampon or soon thereafter as determined pursuant to subsection c. of 
this section.

���� 2.��� The Commissioner of 
Health may adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the �Administrative 
Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as necessary to 
effectuate the provisions of this act. 

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires nurse 
practitioners who practices nursing in emergency medicine, family medicine, 
general obstetrics, or gynecology and physicians who practice emergency 
medicine, family medicine, general obstetrics, or gynecology to ask patients 
questions regarding menstrual cycles, previous tampon use, and toxic shock 
syndrome.

���� Under the bill, a nurse 
practitioner or physician is to ask each female patient who is exhibiting 
symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis if the patient has 
an active menstrual cycle or the date of the last menstrual cycle if the female 
patient does not have an active menstrual cycle at the time of the medical 
visit.� A nurse practitioner or physician is to ask a female patient with an 
active menstrual cycle or a recently active menstrual cycle, when the patient 
most recently used a tampon and if the patient experienced symptoms associated 
with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while using the tampon or soon 
thereafter.� A nurse practitioner or physician is to inform a female patient 
who is exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis 
about signs and symptoms of menstrual toxic shock syndrome.� 

���� In addition, a nurse 
practitioner or physician is to offer to test a female patient for toxic shock 
syndrome if: 

���� (1)�� the patient is 
exhibiting symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis; 

���� (2)�� the patient has an 
active or recently active menstrual cycle; and

���� (3)�� the patient began 
experiencing symptoms associated with influenza or viral gastroenteritis while 
using a tampon or soon thereafter.