# New Jersey A946: "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

New Jersey A946, "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing., is a 221st Legislature (2026-2027) House bill sponsored by Carol A. Murphy (Democratic), Heather Simmons (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-01-13 (Withdrawn; prior-session bill approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.177.) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-A946-2026-2027
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: New Jersey A946
- State: New Jersey
- Session: 221st Legislature (2026-2027)
- Title: "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act"; establishes certain requirements concerning provision of mental health services to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-01-13, Withdrawn; prior-session bill approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.177.
- Sponsors: Carol A. Murphy (Democratic), Heather Simmons (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 49
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Carol A. Murphy (Democratic), House
- Sponsor: Heather Simmons (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robert Auth (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John V. Azzariti Jr. M.D. (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Rosaura Bagolie (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David Bailey Jr. (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Al Barlas (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Bergen (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Clinton Calabrese (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Linda S. Carter (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Robert D. Clifton (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Alixon Collazos-Gill (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joe Danielsen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Wayne P. DeAngelo (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Christopher P. DePhillips (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: John DiMaio (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Margie Donlon M.D. (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mitchelle Drulis (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Aura K. Dunn (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Dawn Fantasia (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Victoria A. Flynn (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Roy Freiman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Shama A. Haider (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dan Hutchison (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael Inganamort (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Paul Kanitra (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Robert J. Karabinchak (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andrea Katz (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Yvonne Lopez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gregory P. McGuckin (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Cody D. Miller (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: William F. Moen Jr. (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gregory E. Myhre (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Ellen J. Park (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Luanne M. Peterpaul Esq. (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Erik Peterson (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Eliana Pintor Marin (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Annette Quijano (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gabriel Rodriguez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian E. Rumpf (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: William B. Sampson IV (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Alex Sauickie (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Gerry Scharfenberger (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Alexander Schnall (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Shanique Speight (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Sterley S. Stanley (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Swain (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cleopatra G. Tucker (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Michael Venezia (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Anthony S. Verrelli (Democratic), House

## Actions (2)

- 2026-01-13: Withdrawn; prior-session bill approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.177. (House)
- 2026-01-13: Introduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee (House)

## Bill text

- As Introduced, 2025-12-12: [HTML](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A1000/946_I1.HTM), [PDF](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A1000/946_I1.PDF)

## Related bills

- S1395: Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before end of five-year registration period. (signed)
- S4515: Authorizes dual employment by certain employees of Rutgers University and affiliated contracting entities.* (signed)
- S4420: Authorizes regional rehabilitation and reentry center authority to determine county proportional share assessment for budget purposes. (signed)
- S4413: Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids program in DCF; requires school districts to develop mental health support and partner… (signed)
- S2962: Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for military service. (signed)
- A4072: Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contract. (signed)

## Sources
- [As Introduced (HTML)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A1000/946_I1.HTM)
- [As Introduced (PDF)](https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2026/A1000/946_I1.PDF)

## Related
- [S1395: Allows certain limited liability companies to terminate alternate names before…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S1395-2026-2027)
- [S4515: Authorizes dual employment by certain employees of Rutgers University and affil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4515-2026-2027)
- [S4420: Authorizes regional rehabilitation and reentry center authority to determine co…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4420-2026-2027)
- [S4413: Establishes School-based Partnerships for Access and Resilience for Kids progra…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S4413-2026-2027)
- [S2962: Provides seniority service credit to educational support professionals for mili…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-S2962-2026-2027)
- [A4072: Establishes minimum qualifications for persons employed on public works contrac…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-A4072-2026-2027)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NJ-A946-2026-2027 (as of 2026-10-11).