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This Week in New Jersey: January 14th, 2022

01/14/2022

GOVERNOR MURPHY DELIVERS 2022 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

Governor Murphy delivered the 2022 State of the State Address this week, outlining his vision to make New Jersey stronger, fairer, and more affordable.

"Opportunity, affordability, and fairness must be linked," said Governor Murphy. "One without the others is hollow. But all of them together are an unstoppable force for a brighter future and proof that the American Dream lives in New Jersey."

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GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNS HISTORIC LEGISLATION TO EXPAND AND PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN NEW JERSEY

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.”  

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GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNS LEGISLATION TO ENSHRINE MARRIAGE EQUALITY INTO STATE LAW

Governor 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.”

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INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, GOVERNOR MURPHY, AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCE HISTORIC WIND ENERGY AUCTION OFFSHORE NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, alongside New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Kathy  Hochul, and Liz Shuler, President of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold a wind auction next month for more than 480,000 acres offshore New York and New Jersey, in the area known as the New York Bight. This will be the first offshore wind lease sale under the Biden-Harris administration. 

“Offshore wind holds the tremendous promise for our future in terms of climate change, economic growth, strengthening our work force, and job creation,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “New Jersey is already committed to creating nearly one-quarter of the nation’s offshore wind-generation market and these transformative projects are proof that climate action can drive investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, while creating good-paying, union jobs. By acting on this shared vision, we can promote our joint offshore wind goals, and deliver benefits to residents of both states, particularly those in overburdened communities. Together, with this critical cooperation with the Biden-Harris administration and our state partners, we will turn this vision of becoming a leader in the global offshore wind market into a reality.” 

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GOVERNOR MURPHY REINSTATES PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY TO RESPOND TO OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID-19

Governor Phil Murphy reinstated a Public Health Emergency in order to ensure that the State is able to respond to the continued threat of COVID-19 and the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. Executive Order No. 280 declares a Public Health Emergency and restates the existing State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey, allowing state agencies and departments to utilize state resources to assist the State’s healthcare system and affected communities responding to and recovering from COVID-19 cases. 

“COVID-19 remains a significant threat to our State and we must commit every resource available to beating back the wave caused by the Omicron variant,” said Governor Murphy. “While we hope to return to a state of normalcy as soon as possible, the step I am taking today is a commonsense measure that will protect the safety and well-being of all New Jersey residents while allowing state government to respond to the continuing threat that COVID-19 poses to our daily lives.”

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