N.J. Stat. § 26:1A-37.11: Findings and declarations.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Emerging infectious diseases and public health emergencies pose significant risks to the health, safety, and economic stability of the residents of this State.

b. On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14155, “Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization,” and formally exited the organization on January 22, 2026. The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948 with the mission to act as a coordinating authority on international public health issues and emergencies. The United States has been actively engaged with WHO throughout its history. Withdrawal from this organization leaves a void in world health leadership, endangering the safety and wellbeing of billions of people.

c. In 2025, the State established its first official Public Health Institute within the Center for Health Equity and Wellbeing to strengthen public health systems through innovation and collaboration. The State also joined the multi-state Governors’ Public Health Alliance and the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, which work to protect public health and facilitate communication and coordination across state lines to address shared public health challenges.

d. New Jersey’s strategic location, combined with investments in transportation infrastructure, make the State a vital gateway for commerce and travel, connecting nearly 60 million consumers annually. Therefore, rapid detection, information-sharing, and coordinated response are critical to preventing and mitigating outbreaks of infectious disease.

e. The WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is a well-established international technical collaboration that links public health agencies, laboratories, academic institutions, and response organizations to strengthen global outbreak preparedness and response.

f. Participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network does not bind the State or the United States to international legal obligations.

g. Authorizing the New Jersey Department of Health to pursue participation in the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and other initiatives in international public health will enhance the State’s capacity for outbreak preparedness, situational awareness, workforce development, and coordination with domestic and international partners.

L.2026, c.50, s.1.