Disability Rights
Bills listed on this page protect the rights of people with disabilities. To become law, they must pass both chambers and be signed by the Governor.
Rachel's Law
Effective July 1, 2026, P.L.2025, c.280 strengthens DHS enforcement authority for services supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by adding administrative and monetary penalties to existing enforcement tools. The law applies to:
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Licensed residential providers of community-based programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Division of Developmental Disabilities authorized providers serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association operating without required licensure or certification.
Pending State Legislation
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Bills We Support
Disability Rights Bills Pass with Unanimous Support
Stephen Komninos' Law
Enacted in 2017, the Stephen Komninos’ Law strengthens protections for adults with developmental disabilities in all DHS-funded programs and requires employees and volunteers to follow its rules, while enhancing communication with guardians and families.
NEW! DHS Drug Testing Program PowerPoint - The Stephen Komninos' Law
Commissioner Johnson’s letter to families
Commissioner Johnson’s letter to providers
Stephen Komninos’ Law Fact Sheet
The Stephen Komninos’ Law PowerPoint Overview for Providers
(Video) The Stephen Komninos’ Law Provider Overview Webinar
(Video) The Stephen Komninos’ Law Employee Training Webinar
Flyer for Direct Support Professionals
The Stephen Komninos’ Law “Report Abuse” Flyer
New Jersey Public Law 2017, Chapter 238, the Stephen Komninos’ Law
Federal Legislation
HCBS Settings Rule
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provide long-term care in home and community settings instead of institutions under Medicaid. Services include medical and non-medical supports like personal care, case management, habilitation, and respite. In 2014, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the HCBS Settings Rule, setting new standards for where HCBS are delivered.
Key Provisions
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Settings Rules Resources: Who can I talk to if someone isn’t respecting my rights? (Plain Language)
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Settings Rules Resources: What are my rights in the type of setting I live in? With checklists (Plain Language)
This legislation requires the federal government to create a separate job category for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), which will improve data, recognition, and workforce tracking for people who support individuals with disabilities. This is not about funding programs, it’s about better classification to help address staffing shortages over time.
The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act is a bipartisan bill that updates outdated financial eligibility rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program supporting people with disabilities.
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Raises asset limits:
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From $2,000 → $10,000 for individuals
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From $3,000 → $20,000 for couples
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Indexes limits to inflation:
Ensures these caps increase over time instead of staying fixed for decades.
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Reduces “marriage penalty”:
Allows married SSI recipients to keep more savings without losing benefits.
The bill removes rules that penalize people for saving money or working, promoting financial independence and stability while maintaining access to benefits like Medicaid. The bill modernizes SSI by letting recipients build modest savings without risking their benefits, addressing rules that haven’t been updated in nearly 40 years.