Office of the Governor | This Year in NJ

Governor Murphy, Senate President Scutari, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, Announce Historic $2 Billion Property Tax Relief Program

Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Nick Scutari, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin announced the expansion of the ANCHOR Tax Relief Program, making the relief program one of the largest in state history. ANCHOR, which stands for Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters, was announced by Governor Murphy in March as part of his Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) Budget Proposal. The expansion of the program will increase this investment from the nearly $900 million proposed in March to over $2 billion and will reduce property taxes for over 1.16 million homeowners and 900,000 renters beginning in FY2023.

“I am proud to stand alongside Speaker Coughlin to announce the delivery of $2 billion in direct property tax relief, which will provide over 2 million rebates to New Jersey households. This is a truly historic tax relief program for our state,” said Governor Murphy. “Today we take a step forward on this administration’s promise to make New Jersey a stronger, fairer, more affordable state for our middle-class and working families.”

"It is extremely important to ensure that these programs are sustainable and any additional tax cuts and investments continue beyond this fiscal year and I know I have that commitment from the leaders to do that," said Senate President Scutari. "While we're announcing a two billion dollar program today, I continue to look forward to additional targeted programs helping middle-class taxpayers."

“New Jerseyans need tax relief now," said Assembly Speaker Coughlin. "It is my priority to enact the largest tax relief program in our state’s history and I am pleased that our $2 billion ANCHOR program puts us on course to deliver the boldest and most robust affordability agenda for our working and middle-class families for years to come. With $1,500 and $1,000 in direct property tax rebates for homeowners and $450 for renters, more than two million New Jerseyans will see money back in their pockets – relief they will be able to count on into the future and relief that builds on the existing 14 tax cuts enacted since 2018, which together affirm our commitment to position all of New Jersey as a more affordable place to live. My thanks to Governor Murphy and Senate President Scutari for working with me to achieve this expanded plan.”

Governor Murphy Signs Sweeping Gun Safety Package 3.0 to Continue the Fight Against Gun Violence & Signs Gun Safety Bill Strengthening Concealed Carry Laws in New Jersey in Response to Bruen Decision

In July, Governor Phil Murphy signed a sweeping series of gun safety reforms to continue the fight against gun violence in New Jersey. Since taking office in 2018, Governor Murphy has been a champion of bold, commonsense gun reform, and signed significant gun safety packages in June 2018 and July 2019. The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in New Jersey and signed seven comprehensive gun safety bills, six of which were part of his Gun Safety 3.0 package that he introduced to the Legislature in April 2021 and has repeatedly championed over the last year. These gun safety reforms further solidify New Jersey as a national leader in gun safety and deliver on the promise to make communities safer.

“In the wake of horrific mass shootings in Highland Park, Illinois, Uvalde Texas, and Buffalo, New York, it is necessary that we take action in order to protect our communities. I am proud to sign these bills today and thank my legislative partners for sending them to my desk,” said Governor Murphy. “As I have said before, this is a huge step forward for commonsense gun safety and for safer communities. But it cannot be our only or last step. I look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature and take action to make this state safer for all.”

Governor Murphy also signed A4769/S3214 in December, delivering on the promise he made in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision when he unveiled a comprehensive legislative proposal to maintain New Jersey’s status as a model for gun safety by strengthening restrictions for who is eligible for a public carry permit, and establishing a list of places where people with carry permits cannot bring their firearms.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the N.Y. State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen case that it is impermissible to require applicants in New York to show “proper cause” to carry a handgun in public, which had the effect of invalidating New Jersey's longstanding laws restricting public carry to those who could demonstrate a "justifiable need". Less than 24 hours later, Governor Murphy unveiled a comprehensive proposal that, consistent with Bruen, would strengthen the statutory disqualifiers for those eligible for a carry permit, while significantly expanding the list of sensitive places where individuals cannot carry firearms.

“Today’s bill signing is the culmination of months of negotiations between this Administration and our partners in the Legislature, delivering on the promise I made this summer to keep New Jersey safe in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's awful decision,” said Governor Murphy. “While I strongly disagree with that decision, we must abide by it, and today's law fully respects the Second Amendment while keeping guns out of the wrong hands and preventing them from proliferating in our communities. I am proud to sign this commonsense legislation which prohibits carrying guns in sensitive places, including our daycares, hospitals, libraries, and stadiums.”

Governor Murphy Signs Historic Legislation to Expand and Protect Reproductive Freedom in New Jersey

In January, Governor Phil Murphy, alongside Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, and Alexis McGill Johnson, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and many other legislative sponsors and advocates, signed the historic Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act (S49/A6260), which codifies the constitutional right to freedom of reproductive choice in New Jersey. Governor Murphy also signed S413/A4698, which expands the contraception coverage required under private insurance and Medicaid from a 6-month supply to a 12-month supply.

“In New Jersey, we trust each individual person to make their reproductive choices for themselves,” said Governor Murphy. “With Roe v. Wade under attack, today’s historic legislation makes clear that New Jersey’s position in supporting the right to reproductive choice remains protected. Together, with expanding contraception coverage, these two pieces of legislation serve to meaningfully and tangibly increase access to reproductive health care, and ensure that New Jersey residents are now, and will remain, in control of their reproductive choices.”

“Reproductive health and the ability for women to make medical decisions about their own bodies are fundamental rights that should never be taken away. Today, we are codifying those rights into law in New Jersey,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver. “I want to thank the legislators who have championed this bill and Governor Murphy for signing it into law. Women’s rights are human rights and will always be respected and protected in New Jersey.”

Governor Murphy Signs Legislation to Enshrine Marriage Equality into State Law

In January, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law S3416, which codifies marriage equality in New Jersey law by providing that all laws concerning marriage and civil union are to be read with gender neutral intent. Marriage equality currently exists in New Jersey based on state and federal Court decisions. This new law demonstrates the Governor and Legislature’s commitment to protecting marriage equality by codifying it into New Jersey law.

“Despite the progress we have made as a country, there is still much work to be done to protect the LGBTQ+ community from intolerance and injustice. New Jersey is stronger and fairer when every member of our LGBTQ+ family is valued and given equal protection under the law,” said Governor Murphy. “I am honored to sign legislation that represents our New Jersey values and codifies marriage equality into state law.”

Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Increasing Offshore Wind Goal to 11,000 MW by 2040

In September, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 307, increasing New Jersey’s offshore wind goal by nearly 50 percent to 11,000 megawatts (MW) by 2040. The Executive Order, which increases the state’s current goal of 7,500 MW, also directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to study the feasibility of increasing the target further.

These announcements, which were made during Climate Week at a U.S. Climate Alliance event alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul, underscore Governor Murphy’s commitment to building an inclusive green workforce and achieving a 100-percent clean energy state economy by 2050.

“Extreme weather events and severe flooding across the country leave no room for doubt – the effects of climate change are becoming more impactful and more aggressive, and we must do the same,” said Governor Murphy. “Our renewed and strengthened commitment to offshore wind development testifies to my Administration’s understanding that, regardless of our impressive successes to date, there is always more that we can do to make New Jersey more sustainable while further advancing the state’s economic vitality. Indeed, the groundbreaking report prepared under the aegis of the Council of the Green Economy proves, now more than ever, that environmental health and economic health are inextricably connected.”

Governor Murphy, Port Authority Leaders, State and Local Officials Celebrate New $2.7 Billion Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport

Governor Phil Murphy in April marked the historic opening day of adult-use recreational cannabis sales in New Jersey at Zen Leaf in Elizabeth – one of several facilities across the state now selling cannabis to adults 21 years and older. The commencement of the adult-use recreational cannabis market represents another step forward in New Jersey’s ongoing efforts to create a new cannabis industry that continues to prioritize medical marijuana patients and advance social justice initiatives.

The overarching goal of these efforts is to make New Jersey’s industry able to stand as a model for other states in the nation in ensuring racial, social, and economic equity and justice. Additional applicants are currently under review as the State works to grow the industry to serve as an engine of economic growth, a generator of new, good-paying jobs, and a vehicle for ongoing social equity efforts.

“From day one, my administration has worked with our partners in the Legislature to advance social justice on behalf of the communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition by working to expunge cannabis-related convictions, decriminalize possession, and establish an equitable cannabis industry,” said Governor Murphy. “The first sale of legal, adult-use cannabis today marks a historic moment for New Jersey, as we leave behind the indefensible practices that led to the incarceration of countless people of color and embrace the opportunities of a fair, regulated adult-use market. It is a moment that required long hours of work to make sure we got it right the first time, and I am proud of our efforts to get to this point. With today’s launch, my administration will continue working to grow a cannabis industry that reflects the diversity of our state, protects access for medical marijuana patients, prioritizes justice, and promotes equal opportunities for communities of color.

Governor Murphy Marks Historic Opening Day of Adult-Use Recreational Cannabis Sales in New Jersey

Governor Murphy and Netflix Announce Plans to Build State-of-the-Art East Coast Production Facility at Fort Monmouth

Governor Phil Murphy and Netflix announced that the entertainment company will develop a state-of-the-art East Coast production facility on the former Fort Monmouth campus in Monmouth County, transforming a property that has been largely vacant for more than a decade into an economic engine that is estimated to create more than 1,500 permanent production jobs and more than 3,500 construction-related jobs in New Jersey. Netflix plans to commit $848 million in capital investments to develop the more than 292-acre parcel, adjacent to Route 35 in Eatontown and Oceanport, into 12 state-of-the-art soundstages totaling nearly 500,000 square feet of new development, with the remainder of the property slated for redevelopment with supporting film uses and several community amenities.

“This transformative investment will serve as a cornerstone in our efforts to create a thriving industry from whole cloth,” said Governor Murphy. “As a result of nearly a billion dollars in film production spending, New Jersey will further solidify its status as an emerging national leader in the television and film industries. Additionally, Netflix’s substantial direct investment will stimulate job creation and spark an entirely new ecosystem of housing, hotels, and ancillary businesses and services, bringing with it countless additional jobs and boosting the regional economy.”

“Since the beginning of this Administration, it has been a top priority of ours to build New Jersey’s film and television industry. It is so exciting that our state has just added another force to its ranks with the addition of Netflix’s production facility at Fort Monmouth,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “This announcement comes with a promise of opportunity to the residents, business owners, workers, and many others across our state. Not only will the facility generate thousands of new jobs, but it will also bring increased economic activity to our local and small owned businesses, ultimately leaving a lasting, positive impact on our great state’s economy well beyond this Administration.”

“We're thrilled to continue and expand our significant investment in New Jersey and North America. We believe a Netflix studio can boost the local and state economy with thousands of new jobs and billions in economic output, while sparking a vibrant production ecosystem in New Jersey," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer. "We look forward to working with Governor Murphy, his administration and local leaders to finalize this deal in the months ahead. We thank the FMERA Board and their staff for selecting Netflix as the winning bid and for supporting our mission to create a state-of-the-art production facility at Fort Monmouth."

Statement from Governor Murphy on Senate Confirmations of New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justices Rachel Wainer Apter and Douglas Fasciale

“I am incredibly pleased that the state Senate has confirmed both Rachel Wainer Apter and Douglas Fasciale with bipartisan support to serve as Associate Justices of the New Jersey Supreme Court. I congratulate them both and have complete confidence that they will serve our state and the cause of justice with distinction. They are both incredible legal talents, having already proven their intellects in different parts of our legal system. Moreover, they are both exceptionally good people, deserving of this honor.

“I also must acknowledge the extraordinary grace and fortitude that Rachel has demonstrated over the last year and a half as she waited for this day. This display of character has made me even prouder to have put her name forward.

“The addition of Justice Wainer Apter and Justice Fasciale to our high court guarantees that the hard work of ensuring equal justice for all residents can continue unabated. Moreover, at a time when faith in many of our nation’s core democratic institutions is in doubt, most distressingly the United States Supreme Court, their confirmations send a strong message that in New Jersey we continue our proud tradition of a balanced Supreme Court, choosing our justices across party lines from the best lawyers and judges in our state.

“I thank Senate President Nick Scutari and Judiciary Committee Chair Brian Stack for their leadership and partnership in this process. And I thank every Senator who put our prized judiciary above partisan politics and voted to approve these two exceptional nominees to the New Jersey Supreme Court.”

Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Governor Phil Murphy

This Year in NJ - December 30, 2022