Official Site of The State of New Jersey
This Week in NJ - November 21st, 2025
In Final Keynote Address at the League, Governor Murphy Proposes a Quarter-Billion Dollars in Relief for the State Health Benefits Program for Local Government Employees
In his final keynote address at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Conference, Governor Murphy proposed a set of legislative solutions to prevent the impending collapse of the State Health Benefits Program for Local Government Employees (SHBP-LG). Absent reform, the program is caught in a vicious cycle of rising costs (higher premiums) and declining participation (employer withdrawals) known by actuaries as a “death spiral.” The Governor is calling for significant legislative reforms to protect health care coverage for tens of thousands of SHBP-LG beneficiaries and their family members.
“The State Health Benefits Program for Local Government is on the brink of collapse,” said Governor Murphy. “As health care costs have skyrocketed over the past few years, premiums have gone up by roughly 60%. And more and more employers are withdrawing from the program, which has created a ‘death spiral.’ Unless we take sweeping action now to shore up this program, there are tens of thousands of New Jerseyans whose access to health care will be in serious jeopardy. We cannot allow that to happen.”
“Our Administration is willing to provide a quarter billion dollars over the short-term to keep the SHBP for Local Government solvent in exchange for smart structural and governance reforms that will stabilize the program over the long-term,” continued Governor Murphy. “Achieving this goal will require hard decisions. But that is what good government is all about: making reasonable reforms to advance the public good.”
The Governor’s proposed legislative solutions includes near-term relief and necessary structural reforms to plan design, governance, and employer retention to ensure continued solvency.
Governor Murphy Issues Writ for Special Election to Fill Vacancy in the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey
Governor Phil Murphy issued a writ of election to fill the vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District created by the resignation of Representative Mikie Sherrill, Governor-elect of New Jersey, who resigned from office effective 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
The Governor’s writ directs that a special primary election will be held on February 5, 2026 and that a special general election be held on April 16, 2026. There will be six days of in-person early voting for the special primary election, spanning January 29, 2026 through February 3, 2026, and nine days of in-person early voting for the special general election, spanning April 6, 2026 through April 14, 2026.
The writ states that nomination petitions for partisan candidates seeking a party nomination in the special primary election shall be filed by December 1, 2025. 500 valid signatures are required for primary candidates.
Direct nominations by petition for independent candidates for the special general election shall be filed no later than the date of the special primary election. Independent candidates need 250 valid signatures to appear on the general election ballot.
Governor Murphy Announces $150 Million in Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Aid Grants
Governor Phil Murphy announced $150 million in Fiscal Year 2026 Municipal Aid grants, with 537 cities and towns across the state receiving funds to advance road, bridge, safety, and quality-of-life improvements, demonstrating the Department of Transportation’s Commitment to Communities.
The competitive Municipal Aid grant program attracted 591 applications from 537 different municipalities with a total of $363 million requested. Project applications were evaluated and rated on their merits by NJDOT staff and reviewed by an independent panel of New Jersey municipal engineers. Every municipality that applied for funding, all 537 municipalities, received a grant, totaling $150 million.
“Having a safe and efficient transportation system throughout the state means investing in local roads and bridges, as well as State highways,” Governor Phil Murphy said. “Municipal Aid provides the funds for infrastructure projects in our towns and cities that significantly improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents.”
“Once again, NJDOT was able to award funding to every community that applied for a Municipal Aid grant this year,” NJDOT Commissioner Fran O’Connor said. “Governor Murphy’s ongoing commitment to improving New Jersey’s infrastructure is making New Jersey’s roads and bridges safer for all users whether you are driving, walking, or cycling.”
New Jersey Department of Health Launches Statewide Effort to Enhance Availability and Access to COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines for Children During Respiratory Virus Season
Working closely with leading health systems and community partners across the state, the New Jersey Department of Health has launched a coordinated effort to enhance availability and access to COVID-19 and flu vaccines for those who want to receive them.
“My Administration remains committed to expanding access to vaccines for those who want to receive them,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “By leveraging our partnerships with the state’s leading health systems and launching regional COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics, we are streamlining access to vaccinations and ensuring families have the tools necessary to protect against COVID-19 and the flu.”
“With respiratory virus season upon us and the holidays around the corner, there’s no better time than now to get vaccinated and be protected,” said Acting Commissioner Jeff Brown. “By partnering with leading health systems in all regions of the state, we are making sure that families have direct, convenient, and reliable access to vaccines close to home.”
NJ TRANSIT Provides Extra Service for Thanksgiving Travelers
NJ TRANSIT is adding additional service this Thanksgiving weekend to help take the stress out of travel as the Garden State embarks upon the holiday season. No matter what your Thanksgiving plans are, NJ TRANSIT can help get you and your family there with kids riding free the entire long weekend!
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has historically been the busiest day of the year at Newark Airport’s rail station, with ridership levels about twice that of a typical weekday. To accommodate increased holiday travel and provide additional capacity for customers traveling to Newark Liberty International Airport, as well as those leaving work early to begin the long holiday weekend, NJ TRANSIT will once again offer “early getaway” rail and bus service on Wednesday, November 26.
Additionally – throughout the Thanksgiving weekend and end-of-year holiday season – NJ TRANSIT’s Family SuperSaver Fare, which allows up to two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult, will be in effect from 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 26 until 2 a.m. Monday, January 5.
On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, NJ TRANSIT will add extra trains and buses to the schedule in the morning and early afternoon hours to accommodate customers traveling to/from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Then, on Friday November 28, traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, bus service will be offered to shopping centers throughout New Jersey. Rail service will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule with additional service for those working this day.