Health
NJ Assembly Committee Advances Psilocybin Therapy Bill – On Nov. 24, 2025, the Assembly Health Committee advanced a bill that would create a tightly controlled system for supervised psilocybin therapy in New Jersey. Adults 21+ could access psilocybin (the psychedelic compound in some mushrooms) only with a medical referral and only at licensed service centers under professional supervision. The committee stage establishes a psilocybin therapy pilot program under the Department of Health, with a Psychedelic Therapy and Research Advisory Board. The bill would require licensed centers and trained facilitators to administer the drug through sessions which would include prep, supervised dosing, and integration, and would not allow take-home use. It does not legalize recreational possession or decriminalize “underground” psychedelic use. This bill would position NJ among a small group of states experimenting with regulated psychedelic therapy, potentially reshaping mental-health treatment options. There are implementation questions regarding licensing, workforce capacity (given existing behavioral health shortages), insurance coverage, and alignment with anticipated FDA action on synthetic psilocybin in late 2026 or early 2027.
Governors Public Health Alliance Submits Public Comment to ACIP Urging Access to Vaccines for Children – On November 25, The Governors Public Health Alliance, a nonpartisan coalition of 15 governors, submitted a public comment to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) urging the panel to maintain children’s access to safe and effective vaccines and base decisions on strong evidence. This comment was submitted ahead of the ACIP’s scheduled meeting in December. In it, the Public Health Alliance encouraged the ACIP to maintain science-based, transparent, and consistent childhood immunization recommendations.
Public Administration
Governor Murphy Grants Clemency to 55 People – On November 25, Gov. Phil Murphy made an announcement in Elizabeth, NJ that he has granted 36 pardons, completing their sentences, and 19 commutations, or sentence reductions, bringing total clemencies under his administration to 283—more than double all clemencies granted by previous governors since 1994 combined. Most clemency recipients were sentenced due to non-violent drug convictions, but the charges varied widely and included 13 people serving sentences for murder. Recommendations came from an advisory board launched in June 2024 to review cases involving non-violent offenses, excessive sentences, and people who were victims of abuse or trafficking. Murphy signaled that more clemencies are planned before his term ends in January. This marks one of the most aggressive clemency efforts in modern NJ history, shifting the state’s approach to long sentences and drug-related convictions.
Senate President Introduces Bill to Weaken State Comptroller – On November 24, Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) introduced a bill that would strip the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) of its investigative and subpoena powers and transfer those functions to the State Commission of Investigation (SCI). The OSC would keep auditing, procurement oversight, and Medicaid fraud work, but lose its ability to investigate misconduct and compel reforms. The intention would be to transfer of investigatory authority from OSC to SCI so as to eliminate “duplicative” oversight. The bill would also raise SCI commissioners’ pay from approximately $35,000 to $75,000 and would shift who appoints the SCI chair from the governor to legislative leaders, increasing legislative control. This bill is scheduled for a fast-tracked hearing during the lame-duck session, where controversial bills often move quickly. Attorney General Matt Platkin, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, and good-government advocates publicly oppose the bill, saying it would undermine anti-corruption efforts and intimidate law enforcement. Supporters argue consolidation avoids redundancy and focuses OSC on audits and Medicaid fraud.
Women, Children, and Families
NJ Reopens Child Care Assistance Applications (CCAP) – On November 26, the NJ Department of Human Services officials announced a limited reopening of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) after earlier closing the program to new applicants due to budget shortfalls. The reopening is expected to help cover care for about 75,000 children across the state, with applications for new children expected to begin in January. The reopening is limited, as the program is still financially strained and comes after months of criticism from advocates who warned that the freeze on new applications would destabilize child-care providers and cause further financial strain to low-income families in the workforce. CCAP supports low and moderate-income working families by subsidizing childcare. Childcare is a workforce and equity issue: access gaps disproportionately impact low-income families, women, and communities of color. Reopening suggests some fiscal relief or reprioritization but also signals that long-term sustainable funding for childcare remains unresolved.
Environment
Murphy Administration Joins Multi-State Petition to EPA – On November 26, Gov. Murphy joined other governors in a multi-state petition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging the agency to include microplastics in its 2027 renewal of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR-6) for drinking water. Microplastics have been recognized as an emerging contaminant with potential long-term health impacts, and requiring nationwide monitoring would generate data across systems and states, informing future regulation and treatment investments. This aligns NJ with other states that have taken more aggressive positions on drinking water contaminants (PFAS, lead, etc.).
Housing
Department of Community Affairs Announces $35M in Affordable Housing Trust Fund Investments – On November 26, the Murphy Administration, through the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), announced roughly $35 million in investments from the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) and Statewide Affordable Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and community development projects across New Jersey. Funding supports construction and rehabilitation of affordable units, plus community facilities and neighborhood planning in distressed areas. Resources are targeted through established state programs that rely on partnerships with local nonprofits, municipalities, and private investors. The state housing policy connects to broader issues of racial and economic equity, displacement, and homelessness.