As Texas continues to enforce one of the nation鈥檚 most restrictive abortion bans, New Jersey is launching a campaign aimed squarely at reproductive health providers in the Lone Star State, urging them to consider relocating to where their work remains lawfully protected.
debuted last week with billboard ads placed in Houston and Dallas near major university hospitals and medical schools, in an effort to reach medical students, residents and practitioners affected by Texas鈥� post-Roe climate. New Jersey officials in southern states in 2022, when Texas鈥� near-total abortion ban went into full effect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of that same year.
鈥淣ew Jersey's goal is to make sure that people know that this is a safe place to practice full spectrum reproductive healthcare,鈥� said New Jersey Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston.
The initiative comes amid growing concern from Texas doctors who say the state鈥檚 abortion laws are putting patients鈥� lives at risk. Under current law, , with no exceptions for rape or incest. The only permitted exception 鈥� to save the life of the pregnant person 鈥� has been widely criticized by physicians for its lack of clarity. A 2024 study from found that nearly 30% of Texas physicians say they don鈥檛 have a clear understanding of the state鈥檚 abortion laws.
In comparison, into state law in 2022. The law ensures the right to abortion throughout pregnancy, without mandatory waiting periods, parental consent or insurance restrictions. New Jersey also allows advanced practice clinicians, such as nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, to provide abortion care.
But in Texas, providers often for pregnant patients facing medical emergencies, including ectopic pregnancies and severe infections, out of fear of criminal penalties. According to the , the state鈥檚 maternal mortality rate shot up by 56% from 2019 to 2022 鈥� before and after the ban went into effect. That鈥檚 compared to just an 11% increase nationwide during the same time period.
鈥淵ou're looking at a patient and have to watch them deteriorate because you're worried that you have to ask a lawyer if it's legal to do what's healthy and safe to save your patient's life,鈥� Baston said.
The ambiguity in Texas鈥� law led to the filing of by Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes, the same lawmaker who authored the 2021 legislation that created the state鈥檚 six-week abortion ban. The proposed bill aims to clarify that doctors would not have to delay or withhold an abortion if doing so would increase the pregnant woman鈥檚 risk of death or impairment. The bill is currently pending in the Senate鈥檚 state affairs committee.
鈥淭hose policies that are impacting reproductive health, they make it impossible for physicians at times to make healthy and safe decisions for their patients,鈥� Baston said. 鈥淚t's pushing providers out of those states.鈥�
According to , 21% of physicians thought about or planned to leave Texas to practice in another state; another 14% said they wanted to leave but couldn鈥檛 due to personal reasons. The New Jersey campaign aligns with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy鈥檚 recent budget proposal, which includes programs for reproductive health professionals who move to the state.
According to Baston, the goal is to position New Jersey as a 鈥渂eacon of safety鈥� for healthcare providers.
鈥淲e want to make sure providers know that we protect providers here,鈥� Baston said. 鈥淲e're not necessarily stealing providers from other states. We're just letting them know this is a safe space to practice.鈥�
