A 5344 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes "Senior Social Isolation Prevention and Mental Health Access Act"; makes $1.8 million appropriation.

This bill creates the "Senior Social Isolation Prevention and Mental Health Access Act" to address loneliness and mental health issues among New Jersey residents aged 65 and older. It allocates $1.8 million to fund county organizations for friendly visitor and digital literacy programs, supports senior centers in launching new mental health screening services, and establishes a three-year pilot program allowing doctors to refer eligible patients to community activities similar to how they prescribe medication. The legislation requires all grant recipients to report on participant numbers and program costs, while the pilot program specifically aims to connect seniors with non-medical resources without charging them extra fees.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jun 28, 2026 Last action Jun 28, 2026
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Full legislative history

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Total actions
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Jun 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brian Bergen
Brian Bergen
RRepublican
NJ
26