Phil Murphy’s Last Stand: Taxpayers Brace for Impact
A progressive wish list ignoring New Jersey's affordability crisis
Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy gave his seventh state of the state address. The Massachusetts native laid down his vision for NJ as he begins his final year of serving as governor. Murphy’s second term ends in January 2026.
Murphy outlined an agenda focusing on economic security, education, reproductive rights, and infrastructure improvements. He emphasized the state's progress over the past seven years and his commitment to "run through the tape" in achieving his vision of what he calls a “stronger, fairer New Jersey.”
A key component of Murphy's address was his proposal to expand affordable housing across the state. He urged the Legislature to eliminate zoning and permitting laws to facilitate the development of accessory dwelling units and the conversion of office parks and retail centers into mixed-use developments. Assemblyman Robert Auth was no fan of this. “This is insane, Governor Murphy is calling for more #overdevelopment by reducing and eliminating local zoning laws.” He posted on X.
In the realm of education, Murphy proposed implementing a ban on cellphone use in K-12 schools to enhance learning environments and reduce cyberbullying. While the majority of schools in the state have a no cell phone policy already, this would essentially codify those policies into law. Murphy also advocated for the expansion of full-day kindergarten programs statewide, emphasizing the importance of early childhood education in setting the foundation for future success. Some municipalities in NJ already have full-day kindergarten. Back in March 2015, the Wayne Board of Education passed a resolution to implement full-day kindergarten in town despite not having enough money to fund the program. The proposal was to eliminate programs from the high school to bring full-day kindergarten to Wayne. It was ultimately defeated at the ballot box that November. However, Wayne finally implemented full-day kindergarten in 2021.
Addressing reproductive rights, Murphy announced plans to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for abortion services and revealed that New Jersey is stockpiling mifepristone, a medication used in abortions. This move is in anticipation of potential federal policy changes under the incoming Trump administration. Murphy stated his willingness to collaborate with the federal government when beneficial but vowed to defend New Jersey's values when necessary. Abortion is legal up to the moment of birth in the Garden State. First Lady Tammy Murphy is a steadfast supporter of abortion which she does through her work at Nurture NJ, a government agency launched by Tammy in 2019.
Infrastructure improvements were also highlighted, with Murphy pledging to overhaul the state's ten most dangerous intersections to enhance public safety. Additionally, he proposed reforms to the state's farmland property tax assessments and called for updates to driver education programs focusing on cyclist and pedestrian safety.
Governor Murphy's address set forth another plan to make NJ more unaffordable than it already is. Public transportation fares are on the rise. Just recently, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey raised the fare on its PATH train for the first time since 2014 by 25 cents. In addition, at the beginning of fiscal year 2025, NJ Transit raised its fares by 15% citing the need to close a budget gap. Once fiscal year 2026 begins, NJ Transit will see fares increase annually by 3%.
For a more in-depth understanding of Governor Murphy's 2025 State of the State address, you can watch the full speech below:
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