During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued an executive order which, among other things, temporarily suspended and waived the requirement that Advanced Practice Nurses (\u201cAPNs\u201d) enter into a joint protocol agreement with a collaborating physician in order to prescribe medications and devices. The waiver was intended to allow APNs to practice with expanded autonomy to meet urgent health care demands during the pandemic. Prior to the end of his final term, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 415, terminating many pandemic emergency declarations and associated waivers, including the waiver of the joint protocol requirement which was set to expire on February 16, 2026. In response, current Governor Mikie Sherrill issued Executive Order 13, extending the COVID-era waiver of joint protocol agreements for 45 days and acknowledging pending legislation, Senate Bill 2996.<\/p>\n
Key Changes for APNs<\/strong><\/p>\n New Jersey Senate Bill 2996 was introduced into the legislature on January 13, 2026 proposing to permanently eliminate practice restrictions that limited APNs\u2019 ability to prescribe and administer medications and devices. In its initial form, Senate Bill 2996 authorized APNs who have completed 24 months or 2,400 hours of licensed, active, advanced nursing to practice without a joint protocol agreement. However, the bill that passed and was eventually signed into law by Governor Mikie Sherrill on March 30, 2026 is significantly different than the version initially proposed.<\/p>\n