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Committee advances bill requiring certain ultrasounds to be performed by qualified personnel; opponents say it targets pregnancy centers
Summary
AB4332 would require ultrasounds at 'limited service pregnancy centers' be performed by healthcare professionals whose scope includes ultrasound; multiple pregnancy‑center groups and national advocates opposed the measure, arguing it singles out centers and may raise constitutional concerns; the committee released the bill as amended.
The committee released Assembly Bill 4332, which would require that ultrasounds performed on pregnant women at a "limited service pregnancy center" be conducted by a health‑care professional whose scope of practice includes such examinations. The sponsor also offered an amendment to allow registered diagnostic medical sonographers (RDMS) or those with American Registry of Radiologic Technologists credentials to perform the scans.
Opponents, including the New Jersey Association of Pregnancy Centers (NJAPC) and the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), urged the committee not to advance the bill. Eileen Denblaker of NJAPC told members that their centers already perform ultrasounds under physician supervision and that sonographers or registered nurses often conduct the scans and physicians read them. "Ultrasounds are performed by registered diagnostic medical sonographers or registered nurses and are read by our doctors," Denblaker said.
Legal concerns were a central theme of opposition. Anne O'Connor of NIFLA and other witnesses said the bill appears to single out centers that do not provide or refer for abortion and risks the same constitutional problems that federal courts have previously flagged in litigation involving targeted regulation of pregnancy centers. "If you have a concern about women getting ultrasounds, why just have this bill targeting pregnancy centers?" O'Connor asked, urging a universal standard rather than a carve‑out.
Speakers from New Jersey Right to Life and other groups also said the bill appeared politically targeted and questioned the fairness of circulating amendments minutes before testimony. Several committee members voiced concern about the late amendments but ultimately voted to release the bill as amended so sponsors could continue negotiating language. The release does not enact the bill; it allows further amendments and continued legislative work.
