New Jersey's Minimum Wage Surpasses $15/hour

In January of 2018, Governor Phil Murphy visited Stephan's Grace Community Church in the Ironbound District of Newark to discuss plans for implementing a minimum wage of $15/hour and paid sick leave. Six years later, the Governor returned to the same location to announce that New Jersey's minimum wage is now $15.13/hour and paid sick leave is the law of the land.

Governor Murphy, Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, Senate President Scutari, and Speaker Coughlin put out the following statement:

“As we begin a new year full of hope and optimism, we are incredibly proud that New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage is now over $15 an hour. When we first began our work together in January 2018, New Jersey’s minimum wage was only $8.60 per hour. Today, thanks to the bill signed into law in February 2019, we are one of only a handful of U.S. states with a minimum wage over $15 an hour. And it is also indexed annually to inflation, which means working families won't fall behind when prices go up. Making life more affordable for New Jersey families is our highest priority. Today, over 350,000 hourly workers will benefit from this much needed boost in earnings — a long and hard fought victory for working families across our state.”

Governor Murphy Signs New Voter Empowerment Act

Governor Phil Murphy signed the “New Voter Empowerment Act” allowing any registered voter who is 17 years of age by the time of a primary election to vote in that primary if they turn 18 years old on or before the next general election.

This bill signing reaffirms the Governor’s longstanding commitment to expanding democracy, building on previous voting rights expansion measures enacted during the Murphy Administration, including automatic voter registration, in-person early voting, online voter registration, and the restoration of voting rights for individuals on probation or parole, among other reforms. 

“To strengthen our democracy, we must ensure that all eligible voters can participate in it,” said Governor Murphy. “Across government, we see how the decisions we make today impact future generations. I am proud to sign legislation that expands access to the ballot box while engaging and empowering a new generation of voters.”

“Since 2018, I have made youth voter engagement a priority as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, and we have seen record youth voter turnout in recent years,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the New Jersey Division of Elections in her capacity as Secretary of State and serves as New Jersey’s chief election officer. “The New Voter Empowerment Act will bring New Jersey voters into the process earlier than ever before, helping young people build healthy civic habits and contribute to our democracy.”

Current law permits a person who is at least 17 years of age to register to vote if the person will be at least 18 at the time of the election. However, the person is designated in the Statewide Voter Registration System as temporarily ineligible to vote until that person’s 18th birthday. This legislation signed by Governor Murphy, which will take effect on January 1, 2026, allows that person to vote in a primary election as long as the person turns 18 years of age on or before the next general election.

Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Requiring Instruction on Grief to Be Taught in Schools

Governor Phil Murphy signed S3330/A5015, which requires school districts to provide instruction on grief as part of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Under the bill, New Jersey’s public schools will be required to provide instruction for students in grades 8 through 12, on, at a minimum, the physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of grief; coping mechanisms and techniques for handling grief and loss; and resources available to students, including in-school support, mental health crisis support, and individual and group therapy.

“Grief can be a debilitating experience that lasts a lifetime when not addressed properly,” said Governor Murphy. “Having lost my parents, other family members, dear friends, and loved ones, I understand the pain grief can hold on a person. It is my hope that prioritizing the teaching of grief and loss in schools will provide students with the tools and resources they need to cope with the challenges of life.”

Additionally, the Department of Education will be required to provide school districts with age-appropriate resources concerning grief. The bill will take effect immediately and requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards pertaining to grief concurrent with the five-year review and update cycle of the content areas. 

"Today codifies a pivotal moment in New Jersey's commitment to holistic education,” said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner of Education. “The enactment of legislation integrating grief instruction into the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, is another stride in addressing the emotional needs of every student. Providing the resources to navigate grief empowers youth to be compassionate and resilient, fostering a more compassionate and supportive learning environment, while also preparing New Jersey students for success."

Governor Murphy Announces Resilience Funding to Assist Homeowners Impacted by December Flooding

Governor Phil Murphy announced that he has instructed the State Hazard Mitigation Team to earmark $10 million in Fiscal Year 2024 FEMA “Swift Current” resilience funding to aid homeowners who were heavily impacted by flooding in December, particularly in the Passaic River Basin.

“Extreme weather events and flooding continue to leave New Jersey families grappling with devastating damage. We have made it a priority to bolster our state’s resiliency against these storms, ensuring that we address the painful cycle of repairing and rebuilding flood-prone homes after every flood event,” said Governor Murphy. “Earmarking these funds will give affected homeowners an opportunity to protect their property from future disasters.”

The Swift Current funding will be dedicated to elevating and/or buying out flood-insured properties in the areas most-heavily impacted by the December floods, particularly in Essex, Passaic, and Morris Counties. The Office of Emergency Management is also conducting initial damage assessments to determine if areas impacted by the storm are eligible for a Presidentially Declared Disaster that would provide FEMA Public Assistance or Small Business Administration Disaster Loans. These damage assessments have not confirmed eligibility for Public Assistance or Disaster Loans to this point, so the Swift Current funding serves as a vital resource for homeowners to better protect their properties from future damages.

“This is excellent news for those residents who live in the Passaic River Basin that were impacted by the recent flooding in the December storms,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, State Director of Emergency Management and Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “With this allocated funding, led by the State Hazard Mitigation Team, Governor Murphy's Disaster Recovery Office, and partnerships with local governments, assistance is available to help protect against future flooding events and support the needs of our residents.”

Governor Murphy re-constituted the State Hazard Mitigation Team as part of Executive Order No. 344 in October of 2023. Led by the Governor’s Disaster Recovery Office and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the State Hazard Mitigation Team’s mission is to coordinate and efficiently utilize hazard mitigation funding to better protect homes and critical infrastructure around the state in response to disaster events. Eligible flood-prone homes that were affected in the recent December storms will be sought out through partnerships with the State Hazard Mitigation Team and local governments to take advantage of this funding. The Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Disaster Recovery & Mitigation will partner with towns and homeowners to manage home elevation projects. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Blue Acres Program will manage home buyout activities with this funding.