Governor Sherrill Signs Executive Order Temporarily Extending State of Emergency to Provide Waivers for Certain Health Care Professionals

TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed Executive Order No. 13, temporarily extending the State of Emergency declared pursuant to Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order No. 103 (2020) for an additional 45 days to provide certain health care professionals more time to enter into joint protocol or delegation agreements with supervising physicians. 

The State of Emergency, previously set to expire at 5:00 p.m. on February 16, 2026, will now expire at 5:00 p.m. on April 2, 2026.

“With today’s executive order, we are providing more time for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants to adjust to this new regulatory landscape, delivering on our commitment to make it easier for small businesses to thrive in New Jersey,” said Governor Sherrill. “Many health care professionals across New Jersey are bracing for impact as years-long state of emergency provisions come to an abrupt end. These sudden regulatory changes will have wide-ranging impacts on health care professionals and patients alike – potentially even forcing clinics and small, independent practices to close their doors, making it more difficult for New Jerseyans to access critical health care services.”

The abrupt termination of the State of Emergency is likely to disrupt and interfere with the delivery of health care – including time-sensitive reproductive health care services – to New Jersey communities and result in the potential closure of clinics, surgery centers, and independent practices, with particularly severe consequences for medically underserved populations and patients with serious conditions.

For the duration of the State of Emergency, certain statutory provisions that would limit the scope of practice of advanced practice nurses (APNs) and physician assistants (PAs) will be suspended and waived. Certain provisions relating to physicians’ supervisory responsibilities will also be suspended and waived as they apply to both physicians and physician assistants.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 13, click here.

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