Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Week in NJ - July 21st, 2023
Governor Murphy Announces Filing of Lawsuit to Block New York's Proposed Congestion Pricing Program
Governor Phil Murphy today announced the filing of a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to block the ill-conceived congestion pricing plan put forward by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City and State agencies. In the suit, the State of New Jersey argues that the USDOT and the FHWA violated the National Environmental Protection Act, which requires a full environmental impact review for projects of this projected impact and scope, as well as the Clean Air Act.
As part of the Murphy Administration’s comprehensive efforts to combat the unfair taxation and discriminatory treatment of New Jerseyans, Governor Murphy also signed S3128/A4694, which will help ensure New Jersey taxpayer dollars stay in our state and go toward programs and services that benefit New Jerseyans. The bill will bring our tax code in line with New York’s and allows New Jersey to tax remote employees who live out of state but work at New Jersey companies – if that state has a similar tax rule.
Additionally, the legislation provides tax credits for New Jersey residents who dispute aggressive tax policies imposed on them by other states. If New Jerseyans take this issue up with another state’s tax authority and receive a tax refund for work they did in New Jersey, the State of New Jersey will provide a tax credit. Furthermore, this bill creates a $35 million grant program to encourage companies that primarily operate outside the state to properly assign their employees that live in New Jersey and to open offices here. This will help ensure that when workers pay taxes, the correct jurisdiction receives those tax dollars.
“After refusing to conduct a full environmental review of the MTA’s poorly designed tolling program, the FHWA has inexplicably greenlighted the agency’s attempt to line its own coffers at the expense of New Jersey families,” said Governor Murphy. “The costs of standing idly by while the MTA uses New Jersey residents to help balance its budget sheets are more than economic. At the MTA’s own admission, its tolling program would divert traffic and shift pollution to many vulnerable New Jersey communities, impacting air quality while offering nothing to mitigate such considerable harm. Today we stand as a unified front against this reckless scheme and reaffirm our commitment to combat the unjust taxation of our hardworking residents by other states.”
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Governor Murphy Signs Bill Establishing Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center
Governor Phil Murphy, joined by First Lady Tammy Murphy, signed S3864, known as the “New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center Act.” The bill will create the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, which will oversee the highly anticipated New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton.
“I am thrilled to sign today’s bill that officially establishes the government authority that will build the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center right here in Trenton. This Center will both drive policy and provide badly-needed maternal health care services in Trenton, which currently does not have a birthing center and suffers from some of the widest racial disparities in maternal and infant deaths,” said Governor Murphy. “I am tremendously grateful to Tammy for her dedication to solving this maternal health crisis. She has been shining a light on this issue, and bringing attention to the hard truths. Today marks another important step in our ongoing efforts to protect the health of mothers and newborns.”
“We all feel an instinctive need to protect our mothers and babies so that every family begins its life together in health, wellness and joy,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “This center will be an incubator for research and development, an academic and perinatal workforce training center, a data collaborative, and so much more. It will offer comprehensive clinical services to serve moms before, during, and after pregnancy and will not only help us transform the maternal and infant health landscape in New Jersey, but will make our state the national model and gold standard for maternal care. I am grateful and enormously proud to see New Jersey commit to leading this effort for generations to come through the work of this center.”
Murphy Administration Enables Expansion of Harm Reduction Centers in New Jersey
As part of the Murphy Administration’s ongoing efforts to combat the impact of the nationwide opioid epidemic on New Jersey, the Department of Health (DOH) has published regulatory changes in the New Jersey Register to facilitate the development of harm reduction centers throughout the state. Harm reduction centers are an important tool in reducing the detrimental effects of drug use and connecting individuals to resources.
“Establishing harm reduction centers throughout the state will pave the way for more of our community members to receive crucial services that can lessen the harmful effects of drugs,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This compassionate and evidence-based approach meets people where they are to help safeguard their health and well-being. Harm reduction will continue to play an important role in our ongoing efforts to help residents who use drugs.”
New Jersey State Police Assumes Control of New Jersey Port From Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor
Governor Phil Murphy, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced that as of Monday, July 17 the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Port Security Section (PSS) has officially taken over the regulatory and law enforcement duties previously held by the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor (WCNYH) within New Jersey. The WCNYH was formed in 1953 under a bi-state compact between New Jersey and New York.
Given the changing needs of the Port, New Jersey enacted legislation to leave the compact in 2018, sparking a five-year legal battle that culminated in a unanimous decision by the United States Supreme Court in April 2023 that affirmed New Jersey’s right to unilaterally withdraw from the Commission. Since that decision, the Murphy Administration has worked closely with New York State officials to ensure an orderly transition that will have minimal impact on the day-to-day operations of the Port.
“Since day one of my administration, I have been committed to ending the outdated Waterfront Commission and replacing it with a structure suited for the 21st century, and I am proud that our administration has delivered on that promise,” said Governor Murphy. “I am grateful to everyone who made this day possible, both for the legal victory and the transition in operations that has been finalized over the last three months. I know that the New Jersey State Police, one of the nation’s finest law enforcement forces, will do a superb job taking over the Commission’s responsibilities, and I look forward to this new chapter in the Port’s history.”
Governor Murphy Announces Filing of Landmark Advanced Clean Cars II Proposal
Governor Phil Murphy announced the filing of the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) proposal with the Office of Administrative Law. ACCII requires vehicle manufacturers to make zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) an increasing percentage of their new light-duty vehicle sales, ramping up to 100% ZEVs by 2035. The rule does not impose any obligations on consumers or car dealers, and provides compliance flexibilities for manufacturers, including a credit trading mechanism. During his 2023 Climate Address in February, Governor Murphy directed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to begin stakeholdering on ACCII in order to propose the rule this year. The Office of Administrative Law is expected to publish the proposal in the August 21 New Jersey Register, starting a public comment period that will run through October 20, 2023.
Additionally, Governor Murphy announced that New Jersey has signed on to the Accelerating to Zero Coalition’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Declaration, a landmark global agreement launched by the UK at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in November 2021 and signed by 41 national governments and 74 cities, states, and regional governments so far. New Jersey has signed on to Section 2C of the Declaration, which commits the state to a zero emission vehicle future in alignment with the Paris Agreement goals.
“By filing the ACCII proposal, we build upon our nation-leading record of bold climate action while delivering on our promise to utilize every tool at our disposal to combat the intensifying climate crisis,” said Governor Murphy. “Our commitment to bringing the ACCII proposal to fruition is a commitment to every New Jersey family and the air they breathe, air that will be cleaner and healthier tomorrow thanks to the steps we’re taking to reduce emissions today. That commitment is underscored by our signing of the ZEV Declaration, which recognizes that New Jersey is just one crucial piece of our global response to climate change.”