A historic win: Governor Phil Murphy has signed groundbreaking legislation that will help protect pregnant mothers from the dangers of lead exposure and addresses maternal health disparities. Isles led the coalition that made it happen.
On January 7th, the Governor signed A4848/S3616 (P.L. 2025 c.193) into law, requiring healthcare professionals to perform lead screening of pregnant persons with previous lead paint exposure. This simple but powerful change addresses a long-overlooked health risk that disproportionately affects New Jersey’s Black and brown communities, who are more likely to live in environments with hazardous lead. Furthermore, research shows that lead stored in a pregnant person’s bones from exposure as a child can be remobilized into the bloodstream during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Lead is known to cross the placenta and is associated with serious complications, including preeclampsia, cardiomyopathy, stroke, preterm birth, and impaired brain development in infants. These risks contribute to maternal-infant mortality disparities that claim far too many lives in communities of color.
“This bill brings attention to the long-overlooked research that tells us that blood lead levels adversely affect pregnancy outcomes and infant health,” said Sean Jackson, Isles’ CEO. “NJ A-4848/S-3616 (P.L. 2025 c.193) recommends a simple lead test during pregnancy that may improve these outcomes. We are proud that New Jersey is a leader on this issue.”
This victory showcases what’s possible when community organizations, medical professionals, and legislators work together with a shared commitment to health equity. “This law represents the power of partnership among community organizations, medical professionals, and legislators who are committed to protecting the health of pregnant people and their babies,” noted Laura Fenster Rothschild, Isles’ Chief Operating Officer. “By requiring lead screening during pregnancy, we’re taking a proactive step toward identifying risks early and preventing tragic outcomes. This is exactly the kind of evidence-based policy change that can save lives and reduce health disparities.”
“This legislation represents a critical step forward in protecting maternal and infant health in New Jersey,” said Elyse Pivnick, Senior Advisor at Isles. “For too long, the risks of lead exposure during pregnancy have been ignored. By requiring routine screening, we’re ensuring that healthcare providers have the information they need to provide the best care to their clients, and patients can be alert for potential complications from lead.
Our coalition brought together leading experts in maternal health, environmental science, and public health policy. Dr. Thomas Westover, Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Capital Health and Chair of the NJ Section of ACOG, emphasized the medical urgency: “Prenatal lead exposure has known adverse effects on maternal health and infant outcomes across a wide range of maternal blood lead levels.” The coalition also included Adrienne Ettinger from Rutgers University and former CDC lead poisoning prevention chief, Robyn D’Oria of Central Jersey Family Health Consortium and Chair of the National Preeclampsia Foundation, Dr. Brian Buckley of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, and Ruth Ann Norton of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, along with legislative champions Assemblywoman Shanique Davis Speight and Senator James Beach.
This legislation paves the way for community-centered organizations like Salvation and Social Justice to expand their vital work. As Rosalee Boyer, Co-founder of Salvation and Social Justice, noted: “In communities such as Trenton—where Black women and children are disproportionately vulnerable to lead exposure—it has been an honor to collaborate with Isles and other community partners to confront these risks and make our neighborhoods safer for all families.”
The new law requires lead screening based on the most recent CDC and ACOG guidelines, meaning pregnant persons across New Jersey will now receive the services they need for themselves and their babies due to lead exposure. This victory is part of Isles’ broader commitment to create healthy communities where all families can thrive. From our lead remediation programs to our advocacy for environmental health policies, we continue working to eliminate the hazards that threaten our neighbors’ well-being.
Thank you to everyone who supported this effort. Together, we’re building a healthier, more equitable New Jersey, one policy victory at a time.