Public Administration
Second Gubernatorial Debate to be Held on Wednesday, October 8th Hosted by the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy – On Wednesday, October 8th from 7:00-8:00pm gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill will hold their second debate at the New Brunswick Performance Arts Center, which will be hosted by the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers—New Brunswick. The debate will be closed to the public but will broadcast live on ABC7/WABC-TV New York, 6ABC/WPVI-TV Philadelphia, and across the stations’ respective streaming and digital platforms. Partners include the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission and WXTV Univision 41 New York. Television anchors Tamala Edwards and Bill Ritter will serve as moderators for the debate.
New Jersey Minimum Wage Set to Rise on Jan. 1 – NJ Spotlight News published an article discussing the upcoming statewide minimum wage increase of $0.43, which will bring the minimum to $15.92/hour on January 1, 2026, under the state’s CPI-linked adjustment. Seasonal and small-employer minimum wages will rise to $15.23 as part of a slower phase-in through 2028.
Education
Gov. Murphy Signs Legislation Requiring Classroom Instruction on Latino and Hispanic History in Public Schools – On September 30, 2025, Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Bill A3871/S2335, which directs the State Board of Education to incorporate Latino and Hispanic history into state social studies standards and for districts to include related instruction for grades K–12. Under the bill, the Commissioner of Education, in collaboration with the Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage, will provide school districts with sample learning activities and resources that may be used to support implementation of the updated instructional requirements. The intention is for lessons to begin appearing in school curriculum as early as the 2026–27 school year.
Housing
New Jersey Superior Court Upholds New Affordable Housing Process – On October 2, 2025, the Mercer County Superior Court dismissed lawsuits from several municipalities that sought to block New Jersey’s 2024 affordable housing law, preserving the state’s framework to enforce “fair share” obligations under the Mount Laurel doctrine. Therefore, the 2024 statute’s enforcement pathway remains in place, which means towns must proceed with compliance planning and units’ production schedules. Earlier this year, 423 towns adopted and filed housing plans with the courts, representing approximately three quarters of the municipalities in the state, and the largest number of municipalities that have participated in the affordable housing process in its 50-year history in the Garden State.