Renames Office of Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, creates position of deputy ombudsman, and expands duties of office.
This bill renames the Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities to the Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Disabilities, expanding its scope to support *all* individuals with disabilities (not just intellectual or developmental disabilities) and their families. It creates a deputy ombudsman position to step in during the ombudsman’s absence or when conflicts of interest arise, ensuring continuity of services. The bill also updates definitions to include a broader range of disabilities - such as physical, sensory, or mental health conditions - and clarifies the office’s duty to provide information on state and federal laws affecting all disability groups. These changes aim to make the office’s services more inclusive and accessible across New Jersey’s disability community.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Jan 13, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
0
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about S 1196
Scope: NJ
Hi! I can help you understand S 1196. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline