New Jersey is now the 14th state to enact breast density notification legislation. Governor Chris Christie signed the inform/insurance bill, S792, into law on January 23, which also requires insurers to provide additional screening for women with extremely dense breast tissue. Breast density can make it difficult to detect cancer during routine mammograms.

According to the Density Education National Survivors’ Effort (DENSE), the law raises the percentage of women living in states with mandatory breast density notification to 48%. Connecticut, Texas, Virginia, New York, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Tennessee, Alabama, Nevada, Oregon, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have previously passed legislation. On the federal level, Reps. DeLauro (CT) and Israel (NY) have also introduced a Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act.