The New Jersey Assembly has postponed a planned vote on controversial legislation aimed at strengthening protections for reproductive and transgender health care providers after a campaign led by Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Office raised constitutional concerns about a provision that would have authorized lawsuits for alleged interference with gender-related and reproductive health care decisions.

Moments ago, the Assembly voted to amend A2218, a broad health care “shield law” package that passed the Senate last month, and pulled it from today’s voting agenda.

The amendment removed the provision that drew objections from Agudath Israel on religious rights grounds, as well as the right to freedom of speech.

“Working closely with the bill’s sponsors, advocates, leadership in the Senate, and the Governor, we have come to the consensus that it is best to make an amendment to A2218 on Thursday and advance it for a vote in the full Assembly later this month,” Assembly Majority Office spokesperson Rhonda Schaffler said in a statement.

Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Office welcomed the decision.

“We are grateful to the bill sponsors and legislative leadership for recognizing the serious concerns included in this provision and for addressing them,” Shlomo Schorr, Director of Legislative Affairs for Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Office, said. 

“The removal of this language is an important victory for religious liberty, free speech, and parental rights. 

We especially thank the thousands of New Jersey residents who responded to our action alert and contacted their legislators to make their voices heard. Their advocacy helped ensure that constitutionally protected speech and religious expression will not be subjected to vague and potentially far-reaching civil liability.” 

The legislation had allowed individuals to sue anyone accused of interfering with their decision to obtain reproductive or gender-related health care services and seek damages for harm to their business or personal reputation, financial harm, or pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional harm.

Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Office led opposition to the language, warning that its broad and undefined terms could expose rabbis, educators, counselors, schools, and parents to costly litigation for providing guidance or expressing views regarding gender-related medical procedures. The organization issued an action alert this week urging residents across the state to contact their Assembly members and oppose the measure unless the provision was removed.

The bill, if eventually approved by the Assembly, will need to return to the Senate again.