Murphy Administration Releases Second Annual Office of Innovation Impact Report

Governor Phil Murphy announced the New Jersey Office of Innovation (OOI) has released its second annual Impact Report (PDF version), which highlights major projects OOI has advanced over the past year to help residents throughout the State. 

Using a collaborative, multi-agency approach, OOI has improved efficiency in government services to save time and money for New Jersey residents.

“The Office of Innovation has harnessed technology, saved millions of taxpayer dollars, and delivered services better for residents and businesses across the Garden State,” said Governor Murphy. “Over the past 12 months, we have cut red tape and saved New Jerseyans more time and money when trying to file their taxes, feed their kids, start a company, or speak to someone at our call centers. Under Dave Cole’s leadership, OOI is modernizing the delivery of services and making life easier for all New Jersey residents.”

Key accomplishments over the past year include:

• Helping enroll approximately 100,000 additional eligible New Jersey children in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program to ensure they have access to nutritious foods;
• Launching a free, streamlined way for New Jerseyans to file federal and state income taxes, providing millions of dollars in refunds and eliminated fees; and
• Expanding to 15,000 users the country’s first generative AI tool built for state government, which has been used over half-a-million times while saving millions of dollars.

New Jersey City University Signs MOU With Fundación Universidad De Las Américas, Puebla, Strengthening Higher Education Collaboration

As part of Governor Phil Murphy’s mission to Mexico City, Choose New Jersey, the state’s leading nonprofit business attraction organization, facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Fundación Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). The agreement, signed by leadership from NJCU and UDLAP and witnessed by Governor Murphy, establishes a framework to strengthen academic and educational collaboration between the institutions.

“New Jersey and Mexico have a unique opportunity to establish a foundation for lasting and shared growth,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Mexico is New Jersey’s seventh-largest trading partner, and expanding educational opportunities will further strengthen the strong ties between our regions.”

Under the terms of the MOU, the institutions will seek to promote collaboration through student, academic, and administrative exchanges, study abroad programs, double degrees, exchanges of publications and reports, joint research activities, and the organization of academic conferences and seminars, in addition to joint organization of special technical or administrative programs.

“This renewed agreement reaffirms our collective belief that education and economic development are inseparable. Universities are powerful engines of innovation and human capital, and through partnerships like this one, we help shape the talent that drives competitiveness, attracts investment, and fosters social mobility in both Mexico and the United States,” stated Mónica Ruiz Huerta, Vice President of Administration at UDLAP.

"This partnership with Universidad de las Américas Puebla reflects New Jersey City University's commitment to fostering global learning opportunities and cultural exchange," said Andrés Acebo, J.D., President of NJCU. "As New Jersey's oldest Hispanic-Serving Institution, NJCU has a special responsibility to build bridges with leading universities across Latin America. As our campus enters the next era in its nearly 100-year history, partnerships like this exemplify our vision for the future—one that creates meaningful opportunities for academic exchange and enriches both our students and faculty. We're proud to stand with Governor Murphy and Choose New Jersey in expanding the global reach of New Jersey's higher education community."

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Announces Partnership With Consulate of Mexico in New Brunswick to Protect Workers’ Rights

Choose New Jersey, New Jersey's leading nonprofit business attraction organization, as part of its Governor-led mission to Mexico, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) and the Consulate of Mexico in New Brunswick. The agreement reflects a joint commitment to strengthen workers’ rights in New Jersey. 

“Every person in New Jersey deserves to feel safe at their workplace,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Today, New Jersey upholds its reputation as a leader in labor protections, with a reaffirmed commitment to ensuring all workers feel confident exercising their rights in the workplace. This MOU sends the message that all workers in our state are protected by the law to its fullest extent, regardless of origin.” 

The agreement will provide access to information, guidance, training, and educational resources designed to promote the labor rights of Mexican workers in New Jersey. Under this agreement, the NJDOL and the Mexican Consulate will develop training and educational programs, conduct community outreach, and establish a joint dialogue on labor rights, including workplace safety and the prevention of work-related incidents.

“With some of the strongest worker protections in the United States, New Jersey sets a high standard for fairness and economic opportunity,” said Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. “NJDOL is thrilled to collaborate with the Consulate of Mexico in New Brunswick to further our commitment to creating an equitable and thriving work landscape for all. Together, we will provide additional support and resources to make a positive impact in the lives of our workers and employers.”

New Jersey Department of Education Recognizes 11 Blue Ribbon Schools

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced that nine public schools and two nonpublic schools in New Jersey have received the 2025 New Jersey Blue Ribbon Schools Award. The award recognizes schools that are either high-performing academically or making progress in closing achievement gaps among diverse student groups. 

“New Jersey’s 2025 Blue Ribbon Schools demonstrate what is possible when educators, students, and communities work together to support academic growth and opportunity for all learners,” said Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “The Blue Ribbon distinction honors schools that stand out—whether through consistently high achievement or by making remarkable strides in closing opportunity gaps. We are proud to continue recognizing schools that strengthen how they serve all students and set a standard for success across our state.”

The recipients were recognized at this week's New Jersey State Board of Education meeting.

“On behalf of my colleagues on the State Board of Education, I congratulate the 11 schools being named 2025 New Jersey Blue Ribbon Schools,” said State Board of Education President Kathy Goldenberg. “These schools have now been well recognized as incredibly high-performing institutions along with their students' exemplary work closing the achievement gap. This is a major accomplishment for these schools, their administrators and teachers, and, most importantly, our students.”

Governor Murphy Announces Release of Building Decarbonization Roadmap

Governor Phil Murphy announced the release of a strategic roadmap for building decarbonization, including recommendations for policy, legislative, and regulatory advancements, along with workforce development and funding strategies to create cleaner, greener buildings that benefit New Jersey families and workers. 

The set of recommendations to meet the State’s goals for decarbonization are the culmination of a multi-year, whole-of-government approach among agency experts that included recommendations presented by the Clean Buildings Working Group to reduce the state’s second-largest source of pollution. 

Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 316 in 2023, which directed the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy (OCAGE) to develop and release a strategic roadmap to building decarbonization to meet New Jersey’s ambitious goal of electrifying 400,000 residential and 20,000 commercial units by 2030.

“Over the past eight years, we have worked across government to grow New Jersey’s green economy and reduce emissions. This report is the culmination of partnerships across labor, industry, and communities throughout the State – each bringing unique insight and experience to drive the adoption of energy efficiency improvements and emissions reduction upgrades in New Jersey’s buildings,” said Governor Murphy. “Together, they have put forth a comprehensive strategy for lowering emissions as part of our all-of-the-above approach to climate action.”

“With this roadmap, we are releasing a whole-of-government approach to equitably addressing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from the buildings sector,” said Eric Miller, Executive Director of OCAGE. “The recommendations in the strategic roadmap reflect national best practices and countless hours of work by key stakeholders and government experts to craft an actionable pathway to make progress on building decarbonization.”