A 4157 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires newly constructed police stations, fire stations, and hospitals to provide newborn safety device; allows affirmative defense to prosecution for abandonment if parent leaves child in device.

This bill requires all newly constructed police stations, fire stations, and hospitals in New Jersey to install a secure, alarmed compartment (a "newborn safety device") for parents to safely leave newborns. Parents who leave a baby under 30 days old in the device (or with an adult employee at these facilities) without intending to return cannot be prosecuted for child abandonment. The facility must then transport the baby to a hospital emergency department, and the hospital must notify child protection services within one business day. This applies only to newly built facilities and does not change existing laws for older buildings.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026
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Feb 19, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Carol Murphy
Carol Murphy
DDemocratic
NJ
7