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This Week in NJ - September 19th, 2025
Moody’s Upgrades New Jersey’s Credit Rating to Aa3
Credit rating agency Moody’s upgraded its rating on New Jersey’s general obligation bonds to Aa3 from A1, revising the outlook from positive to stable, citing financial reserves that will help the State weather economic uncertainty, along with its growing tax revenue and the Administration’s commitment to fully funding the pension system. This is the State’s ninth credit rating upgrade since Governor Murphy took office.
“The upgrade was driven by the state's ability to maintain a comparatively robust budgetary surplus through the current fiscal year even while providing full actuarial pension contributions and meeting education aid and other spending commitments,” Moody’s wrote in its analysis announcing the upgrade.
“Today’s announcement by Moody’s demonstrates our commitment to reversing decades of fiscal mismanagement,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “We have made difficult decisions that prioritized a strong, reliable surplus and delivered five consecutive full pension payments. While there is more work to be done in the future, these tough decisions have put us on a long-term path to financial stability.”
Ken Burns Joins 3,000 New Jerseyans on Constitution Day to Discuss the American Revolution
Filmmaker Ken Burns joined an audience of 3,000 at NJPAC to commemorate Constitution Day and to discuss the importance of New Jersey to the larger story of America’s founding, as part of a national tour leading up to the broadcast of his new film, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The film, co-directed by Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, will air and stream on PBS beginning November 16, 2025.
“New Jersey was ground zero for the American Revolution,” said Ken Burns. “Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth were just a few of the places that saw brutal battles. There were additional skirmishes across the state, as well as encampments in Morristown, Bernardsville and other towns and cities that we still frequent today. We’re thrilled to join RevolutionNJ, the NJ Department of Education and so many young people to discuss the importance of this history to the state and our country, as well as its meaning today.”
As part of the day-long event, Burns, along with his co-director Sarah Botstein and the historian Christopher Brown, who was an advisor to and appears in the film, visited with teachers and students involved in history education workshops at the Newark Public Library and NJPAC. They also attended a press conference with New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way and Kevin Dehmer, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, and participated in a screening at Newark NJPAC hosted by Governor Phil Murphy for the students and other attendees.
“New Jersey has been, and remains, a state of revolutionary possibilities,” said Governor Murphy. “From Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware to the turning-point victories at Trenton, Princeton, and Monmouth, more battles and skirmishes were fought here than in any other state during the Revolutionary War. We are proud of this history and thrilled to welcome renowned documentarian Ken Burns to the Garden State as we explore New Jersey’s unique and enduring place in our nation’s founding and its future.”
Acting Governor Way Signs Legislation Enhancing Lead Disclosure and Testing Requirements
Acting Governor Tahesha Way signed into law A2929/S1034, which requires landlords to report information about the known or potential presence of lead in drinking water to tenants of residential units, requires public water systems to conduct a lead water test at the request of an occupant at no charge, and deters landlords from obstructing the replacement of lead pipes.
A2929/S1034 builds upon existing legislation to address the ongoing public health and environmental hazard posed by lead service lines. In July 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed the Lead Service Line Replacement Law, requiring public community water systems to replace all lead service lines in their distribution systems by 2031.
“With this bill, we’re protecting New Jerseyans in their communities,” said Acting Governor Way. “No child or adult should ever be forced to live with the detrimental and lasting health effects caused by lead poisoning from their homes. Today’s action strengthens tenant protections, removes barriers to lead pipe replacement, and ensures safer homes and healthier communities for generations to come.”
Several Northeastern States and America's Largest City Announce the Northeast Public Health Collaborative
Several Northeastern states and America’s largest city have been collaborating since early 2025 and formally announced the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, a voluntary regional coalition of public health agencies and leaders, brought together to share expertise, improve coordination, enhance capacity, strengthen regional readiness, and promote and protect evidence-based public health.
The Collaborative’s shared purpose is to work together in new ways – optimizing the use of shared resources, innovating and reimagining core services – to ensure trust in public health, respond to public health threats, advance community health and strengthen confidence in vaccines and science-based medicine. The group’s shared goal is to protect the health, safety and well-being of all residents by providing information based on science, data, and evidence, while working to ensure equitable access to vaccines, medications and services.
The regional partnership, which was informally established several months ago, held its first in-person meeting in Rhode Island in August. The Collaborative has already formed interjurisdictional working groups to identify opportunities for collaboration and shared planning across multiple public health disciplines including public health emergency preparedness and response, vaccine recommendations and purchasing, data collection and analysis, infectious disease, epidemiology and laboratory capacity and services.
Governor Murphy Announces More Than $130 Million in Opioid Settlement Funding to Expand Harm Reduction and Support Families Affected by Substance Use
Demonstrating New Jersey’s continued commitment to stemming the opioid epidemic and supporting communities across the state, Governor Phil Murphy announced an investment of $130.7 million in opioid settlement funds to dramatically expand harm reduction services and launch a new wave of community-based support initiatives for families impacted by substance use.
The new allocation builds on New Jersey’s comprehensive strategy to save lives and promote recovery for those affected by addiction. Funding will support:
- $118.7 million over five and a half years for the continuation and expansion of Harm Reduction Centers, and
- $12 million over three years in direct grants to family and community support organizations.
“With today’s investment, we are infusing critical, life-saving resources into our communities most affected by the opioid crisis. This funding strengthens our ability to meet New Jerseyans where they are, at every stage of their recovery journey,” said Governor Murphy. “Over the course of my Administration, we have pursued a whole-of-government approach to reducing the devastating impacts of the opioid crisis, with a focus on empowering community-based resources to save lives, support sustained recovery, and uplift those struggling with substance addictions.”