On January 8, 2026, I began my role as Chair of the Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Committee (LAAC). Bred out of recent legislative events, such as the Tour of the New Jersey State House and ANA (American Nurses Association) Hill Day, was a group of NJSNA nurses poised and eager to advocate for issues impacting nursing and the communities we serve. As this year has been the start of a new legislative session, bills from 2025 have had to be reintroduced and supported. Upon receiving the results of the most recent elections, the group was dismayed to learn that Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, a nurse and advocate, would no longer be serving during this legislative session.
Still, the stage for nursing advocacy had been set, and the members of the Legislative Awareness and Advocacy Committee were ready and empowered to engage in political advocacy and tackle issues that nurses are passionate about at the local and state levels. Issues that remain at the forefront for the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) include safe staffing for patients (S3022/A1974), funding for professional nursing degrees through the Workforce bill (S2981), and the ‘Nurse’ title bill (A2474), among others. Nonetheless, collectively celebrated the success of New Jersey Bills S2296 and A4052, which allow advanced practice nurses to have full practice authority, an important move in bridging the healthcare accessibility gap that various patient populations experience.
Through LAAC, this year’s goals include providing members with the opportunity to get their feet wet in political advocacy. As mentioned before, legislative tours were one opportunity for political engagement. This committee has also participated in letter-writing, speaking with legislators, and creating At-A-Glance flyers that provide legislators with information on bills supported by the NJSNA. In the upcoming year, the LAAC plans to continue in its efforts to provide members a deeper dive into the legislative process, with plans have speakers discuss the process and the nurses role, learning how to interview legislators, and attending senate and assembly hearings so information can be disseminated on how NJSNA members can best support bills or speak up for bills that may negatively impact our patients and nursing as a profession.
