New Jersey officials to unveil legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into state law

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https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/519407-new-jersey-officials-to-unveil-legislation-that-would-codify-roe-v-wade


October 02, 2020 - 05:34 PM EDT

New Jersey officials to unveil legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into state law

BY CELINE CASTRONUOVO

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on Friday will unveil legislation aimed at codifying the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion into state law.

Murphy told NPR in an interview Thursday that the decision to put the legislation together with other state officials and reproductive rights advocates was influenced by President Trump’s Supreme Court nomination of conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who many anti-abortion GOP members hope will help bring an overturn of Roe v. Wade.

"I hope to God that doesn't happen, but we don't want to take a chance that it could happen," Murphy told NPR.

In addition to securing the right to abortion under New Jersey state law, a spokesman for Murphy told NPR that the proposed legislation will “remove some restrictions on abortion that advocates say are medically unnecessary; require most private health insurers to cover abortion; and allow a wider range of health care providers, including physician assistants, certified midwives and other advanced-practice nurses, to administer abortions.”