(TRENTON) – Legislation that would put a constitutional amendment to codify and protect reproductive rights in New Jersey on the ballot for this November’s election was introduced on Tuesday. Sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Danielsen in the Assembly, ACR-156 would enshrine the fundamental right to reproductive freedom in the State Constitution.

Currently, while New Jersey is a nationwide leader in reproductive freedom, these rights are not included in the State Constitution. New Jersey courts have inferred the existence of this right based on the State Constitution’s broad protections of individual rights to privacy and liberty, and have concluded that the New Jersey Constitution protects a pregnant person’s right to an abortion in the State. This legislation affirms and codifies this reality, adding language protecting reproductive freedom into the State Constitution.

“Reproductive freedom is an essential right for women here in New Jersey. And as that right is under attack across the country, the time has come for New Jersey to make a bold and proactive step to defend this right” said Assemblyman Danielsen (D-Somerset, Middlesex). “We have made amazing progress here in New Jersey on reproductive freedom. But now is the time to take the next step and constitutionally protect reproductive freedom”

This legislation is the first step in a two-step process. The first step is approval by the Legislature, which would place a ballot question regarding the Constitutional Amendment on the ballot for this November’s General Election. If the voters approve, reproductive freedom would be codified into the State Constitution.