Transportation
New York Congestion Pricing Program Launched Despite Pushback from New Jersey – New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the revival of the congestion pricing program, set to begin in January, which will charge drivers $9 to enter Manhattan during peak hours. Environmental and transit advocates praised the plan for its potential to reduce traffic and pollution, as well as improve public health. However, critics, including New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, opposed it, citing concerns over its financial impact on New Jersey families. New Jersey remains part of an ongoing lawsuit to block its implementation.
Education
State and School Districts Return to Court Over Parental Notification Guidelines – On November 19th, attorneys in New Jersey returned to court to argue the appeal of a pause on school district policies mandating staff to notify parents of any change in their children’s expressed gender identity. These district policies conflict with New Jersey Department of Education guidance, which does not require parental notification. Opponents of the current guidance, including the affected school districts and “parental rights” activists, argue that parents should be informed of significant changes involving their children. Supporters, including the state, LGBTQ students, and advocacy groups such as Garden State Equality, contend that the guidance protects students from potential harm by shielding them from being outed to unsupportive families. In August 2023, state courts first temporarily paused school district policies. Those districts are now appealing this decision while a court ruling on a civil rights complaint related to the policies remains pending.
Assembly Committees Hold Hearing to Enhance the State Child Care Industry – On November 14th, the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee and Assembly Children, Families, and Food Insecurity Committee held a joint hearing to gather public input on methods to improve the state’s child care industry. Over 50 teachers, advocates, and childcare providers testified, expressing concerns over inadequate pay and increasing employee turnover. Industry advocates called for increased state funding to hire new workers and boost pay and retention for existing staff.
Charter Schools Association Proposes Reforms Amid Scrutiny – Following reports of excessive salaries for some charter school administrators, the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association proposed reforms to address abuses while maintaining school autonomy. The proposals include publicly posting budgets, requiring charter management organizations to conduct compensation studies, and mandating that board members be New Jersey residents. Some policy experts and organizations, including New Jersey Policy Perspective, said the proposals did not go far enough, arguing for greater state oversight of charter schools. Dr. Julia Sass Rubin, Associate Dean and Director of the Public Policy Program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, recommended that charter schools elect board members and provide user-friendly budgets to better align with traditional public school practices. State lawmakers plan to hold another hearing in November to explore broader reforms and best practices from other states.
Environment
Natural Gas Rate Hikes to Affect Nearly One Million New Jerseyans – On November 21st, the Board of Public Utilities approved natural gas rate hikes that will impact nearly one million New Jersey customers across ten counties. New Jersey Natural Gas will hike rates by approximately 16% for 500,000 customers, and Elizabethtown Gas Company will increase rates by 6% for its 300,000 customers. These hikes come as natural gas utilities upgrade system to improve safety and reduce methane leakages. The New Jersey League of Conservation Voters argued that the increases underscore the need for the state to shift away from fossil fuels and towards more affordable renewable sources, such as solar and wind. The Board of Public Utilities advised homeowners to reduce energy consumption where possible and to take advantage of state energy efficiency programs to offset costs.
Public Administration
Assembly Advances Bill Increasing Penalties for Shoplifting – On November 14th, the Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee unanimously advanced Bill A4755, which proposes tougher sentencing for repeat shoplifters and organizers of shoplifting rings. It also recommended increased penalties for assaults against retail workers and measures to combat gift card scams. The legislation comes amid a post-pandemic rise in retail theft. Bill sponsors also argued changes are necessary to align with stricter penalties in neighboring states like New York and Pennsylvania, preventing New Jersey from becoming a target for potential shoplifters. Opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, argued that more severe penalties are unlikely to deter theft. Along with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, they urged the state to instead focus on reducing poverty by increasing education funding, housing availability, and mental health support.
State Commission Urges Governor to Pass Criminal Justice Reform Measures – On November 13th, the New Jersey Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission sent a letter urging Governor Phil Murphy and other legislative leaders to pass legislation ending mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. This legislation would provide a path to release for elderly incarcerated individuals and grant judges greater ability to reduce fines when defendants cannot afford them. The Commission emphasized these changes could reduce the prison population, address racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and save taxpayer money, citing an annual cost of $74,750 per incarcerated individual. While a Murphy spokesperson signaled support for the recommendations, similar bills have failed to move through the legislature over the past several years amid a national shift towards more “tough-on-crime” policies. New Jersey prisons have some of the worst racial disparities in the country, with Black adults being 12 times more likely to be incarcerated than White adults.
Social Justice Groups Call for Expedited Closure of Juvenile Facilities – On November 21st, over 30 state and community social justice and advocacy groups sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin, calling for the expedited closure of three juvenile facilities. At the same time, they urged the state to launch an investigation into the Juvenile Justice Commission amid accusations of recent and longstanding sexual abuse by staff members. In the letter, the groups advocated for community-based, developmentally-focused programs grounded in restorative justice for the state’s incarcerated youth. A spokeswoman for Platkin emphasized the state’s commitment to closing two of the three facilities and highlighted reforms to reduce the incarcerated youth population. She also stressed the need for an investigation to identify necessary policy changes to prevent further abuses.
Housing
State Leaders Announce Public-Private Program to End Veteran Homelessness – On November 11th, Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way announced the launch of the Brining Veterans Home program, a $30 million initiative to secure housing for homeless veterans in the state. The program, a joint effort by state offices and veterans service organizations, will streamline housing access through online and hotline applications, direct outreach, and the establishment of six regional hubs to bridge service gaps across counties. Officials hope the program will enable New Jersey to effectively end veteran homelessness by 2027. The latest figures show 518 veterans—5% of the nearly 10,000 homeless adults statewide—are currently unhoused.
Advocates Urge State Courts to Improve Eviction Process – A coalition of tenant advocates is urging New Jersey courts to improve the review process for residential eviction complaints. They cited an October 2024 report that found 69% of eviction complaints filed by landlords contain legal deficiencies, such as unlawful fees. Tenants, advocacy organizations, and policy experts argue that the state courts must review eviction cases more closely, as 97% of residential tenants in 2023 lacked legal representation to defend them from eviction. A spokesperson for New Jersey courts stated that the Administrative Office will conduct a study to further evaluate the level of landlord compliance with court rules. Evictions were the second leading cause of homelessness in New Jersey last year, rising sharply from 14.1% in 2022 to 18.51% in 2023.
State Officials Discuss New Housing Obligations Amid Municipal Concerns – On November 20th, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs spoke to municipal officials at the annual New Jersey State League of Municipalities convention about the calculations behind the state’s affordable housing obligations released in October 2024. State officials encouraged municipalities to engage with the state to ensure adequate financial and technical support in meeting housing requirements. Some municipal officials expressed economic and logistical concerns over fulfilling the obligations, with 22 municipalities already filing a lawsuit challenging the new housing rules in September 2024. However, a coalition of 32 urban municipalities voiced support for the obligations, seeing them necessary to address the state’s housing deficit. The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates that the state needs more than 200,000 affordable homes to meet current demand. For the current obligations, the Department of Community Affairs calculated an overall need of around 85,000 new affordable homes, and reported 65,000 existing homes need rehabilitation.
Health
State Lawmakers and Advocacy Groups Push for Increased State Abortion Protection – New Jersey lawmakers and advocacy groups are urging stronger protections for reproductive rights amid concerns over potential federal restrictions. Advocacy organizations, including Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, ACLU New Jersey, the American College of Nurse Midwives of New Jersey, and the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, are supporting a nine-bill package to expand reproductive care. The measures include providing insurance coverage for abortion care, investing in reproductive health care infrastructure, and increasing patient data privacy, among other provisions. Some lawmakers also suggested codifying abortion rights in the state Constitution to further shield against potential restrictions or a national abortion ban. Opposing lawmakers and organizations of the measures voiced concerns during an October hearing. They argued that taxpayers’ dollars should not fund abortion services in the state. While a portion of the bill package has partially advanced through the Senate, no action has been taken in the Assembly.