New Jersey’s Department of Health (NJDOH) would be authorized to establish partnerships in international public health under legislation passed by the General Assembly today. Bill A4075, sponsored by Assembly members Sterley Stanley, Carol Murphy, and Margie Donlon, comes in response to the Executive Order President Donald Trump issued on January 20, 2025, “Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization.” America formally exited the organization on January 22, 2026.
The legislation would authorize the NJDOH to take steps to seek participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, the WHO’s international collaboration of public health agencies, laboratories, academic institutions, and response organizations that work together to detect, verify, and respond to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
“As elected officials, our primary responsibility is to keep our residents safe and this is especially true when it comes to public health. When the federal government decided to pull us out of international health partnerships, they abdicated that responsibility by putting more Americans at risk of infectious diseases that are often just a plane ticket away,” said Assemblyman Stanley (D-Middlesex). “New Jersey serves as a major hub for international travel, commerce, and transportation, making rapid access to public health information and coordinated response efforts critical to protecting residents from emerging health threats. By giving NJDOH the authority to pursue partnerships that can improve outbreak preparedness and strengthen information-sharing, we are delivering on our responsibility to keep our residents safe regardless of whether or not the federal government intends to do the same.”
Assemblyman Stanley noted that participation in the network would strengthen the State’s ability to monitor outbreaks, share information, improve workforce training, and coordinate preparedness efforts with public health partners around the world.
“The lessons of recent years have made one thing clear: public health preparedness depends on communication, coordination, and access to timely information,” said Assemblywoman Murphy (D-Burlington), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee. “When health threats emerge anywhere in the world, the effects can be felt here at home. Authorizing the Department of Health to pursue these partnerships helps ensure New Jersey remains informed, connected, and prepared to respond to future challenges.”
Under the bill, the NJDOH would be authorized to pursue participation in the network and engage in training and information-sharing activities and collaborate with federal, state, local, academic, and nonprofit partners to support outbreak preparedness and response efforts. The legislation would also require the NJDOH Commissioner, subject to the availability of funds, to report to the Governor and Legislature on efforts to pursue participation in the network and provide recommendations for future international public health initiatives.
“As a physician, I know that early detection and rapid response are among the most effective tools we have to prevent the spread of disease and protect public health,” said Assemblywoman Donlon (D-Monmouth). “New Jersey must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively when new diseases emerge, or public health emergencies arise. This legislation would ensure we can continue pursuing opportunities to learn from public health experts, share information, and strengthen our preparedness for future emergencies.”
The legislation also specifies that participation in the network would not establish New Jersey as a member of the WHO, would not permit actions that conflict with federal law, and would not authorize the disclosure of confidential health information. |
