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Murphy outlines priories for year

State of the State covers schools, housing, voting

By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

TRENTON - Fortifying abortion rights, banning cellphones in schools, reforming affordable housing, allowing same-day voter registration and codifying the New Jersey's clean energy standard are among the priories Governor Phil Murphy plans to tackle during his remaining 371 days in office.
..... Murphy enumerated his priories Tuesday [01/14/2025] in his seventh State of the State address in the Assembly chamber at the Statehouse in Trenton.
..... Affordability was a major theme in Murphy's address, as it has been for much of the governor's second term.
..... "During this final chapter of our journey, our absolute top priority -as it has been since day one - is delivering economic security and opportunity toe every New Jerseyan," Murphy said Tuesday. [01/14/2025]
..... "So to all of our neighbors in New Jersey who feel as if they have been forgotten, I give you my word: We are going to spend every minute we have left fighting for you and your economic future."
..... Though Murphy drew support from fellow Democrats, it remains to be seen whether he'll have the political buy-in needed to accomplish some of these tasks, as members of the Assembly ready themselves for an election cycle and the eyes of the public turn to the race for his successor.
..... During the hour long speech, the govern0or continued to promote a theme from throughout his administration, building a "state that is stronger, fair and more prepared to face the future."
..... Murphy didn't shy away from what he referred as the "elephant that is not in the room."
..... The governor acknowledged he would work with the Trump administration "where our priories align" but said he would "never back down from defending our New Jersey values - if and when they are tested," without mentioning what issue may require bipartisan partnership in Washington, D.C.,

Funding the future of schools

..... Transitioning the remaining few schools to a full-day kindergarten model is among the education priories Murphy laid out, along with plans to assist districts in providing free, universal pre-K.
..... The governor also aims to direct school district across New Jersey to adopt policies that bean cellphones form our K-12 classrooms and help establish phone-free schools.

Business opportunities

..... Murphy wants to help the state's family-owned businesses with new public contracting opportunities.
..... A disparity study published by the administration last year [2024] found that minority - and women-owned business in New Jersey have been disproportionately excluded from doing business with state government.
..... He also issued a call at the Legislature to reform the state's zoning and permitting laws to "make it easier to build new housing in the communities where it's needed most."
..... "By cutting red tape and easing outdated restrictions, we can build potentially thousands of new, affordable housing units over the next decade," Murphy said.

Transportation needs

..... While Murphy was quick to acknowledge the elephant not in the room, the one looming ever closer in the form of NJ Transit's fiscal cliff didn't get much mention.
..... The governor said the administration has "crated new, dedicated funding streams" for the public transpiration agency, which came under fire last year [2024] for its "Summer of Hell" service problems amid drastic fare hikes, before throwing a shot at neighboring New York's congestion prising program.
..... "By the way, we didn't much of our neighbors to meet our fiscal needs, and we have not stopped fighting for one second to defend our commuters going in and out of New York," he said, adding "stay tuned," suggesting there could more developments in that ongoing saga.

Road safety

..... Murphy wants to "overhaul our state's 10 most dangerous intersections to keep our families safe and to help prevent avoidable tragedies," an announcement that builds on his recent signing of a law that will establish a commission charged with ending traffic fatalities by 2040.
..... He also aims to updat4e driver education programs to focus on cyclist and pedestrian safety.

Reproductive rights

..... The governor renewed his call to get rid of out-of-pocket cost for abortion procedures and announced that New Jersey will stockpile a supply of mifepristone, a medication hat can end a pregnancy at up to 10 weeks.
..... "When it comes to protecting fundamental rights, I will not give an inch,' he said.

Voting access

..... Murphy called for the Legislature to pas a bill to "Make same-day voter legislation a reality in the Garden State" and reiterated his support to expand voting rights, in local school, board elections to 16- and 17-year-olds.

The highlight reel

..... Murphy took time to boast about some of the wins of his time in office, including the ANCHOR program and other tax relief initiatives, raising the state's minimum wage, and the full payment of the school funding formula.
..... He highlighted the full payment into the state's pension system four years in a row and the string of credit rating upgrades, as well.
..... "The bottom line is: We are paying our debts. And we are keeping our promises," Murphy said.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse, Email sobko@northjersey.com.

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