Gibbons Law Alert

Gibbons Law Alert

Tagged: New Jersey State Senate

Gibbons SFY 2026 Report: New Jersey Department of Children & Families Presents Its FY 2026 Budget Proposal

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Posted in State Government

On May 12, 2025

This is the latest installment in a series of posts that offers a detailed look into the budget proposals for the major departments that constitute the state government. On April 22, 2025, and April 30, 2025, New Jersey Department of Children & Families (NJDCF) Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer appeared before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (SBA) and the Assembly Budget Committee (ABU), respectively, to present the Department’s proposed FY 2026 $1.449 billion budget, which is a decrease of $74.6 million or 4.9 percent from the FY 2025 adjusted appropriation. Backdrop of Looming Federal Funding Cuts Congress recently passed a budget resolution requiring the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to cut a minimum of $880 billion through 2034. Medicaid accounts for approximately 93 percent of non-Medicare spending under the jurisdiction of the Committee. To meet the targeted objectives, the majority of the Committee’s cuts will likely come from the Medicaid program. To achieve these reductions, Republican lawmakers are considering proposals to shrink federal matching funds that support state Medicaid expansion populations and change program eligibility requirements by imposing work requirements. The Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) is the percentage rate used to determine the amount a state receives from the federal government for its Medicaid program. Currently, states that have enacted Medicaid expansion under the...

Gibbons SFY 2026 Report: New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance Presents Its FY 2026 Budget Proposal

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Posted in State Budget

On April 28, 2025

This is the latest installment in a series of posts that offers a detailed look into the budget proposals for the major departments that constitute the state government. On April 9, 2025, New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance (NJDOBI) Commissioner Justin Zimmerman appeared before the General Assembly Budget Committee (ABU) to present the department’s proposed FY 2026 budget, which totals $65.3 million. This total is a decrease of $10 million or 13.3 percent from the FY 2025 adjusted appropriation. Backdrop of Federal Workforce Cuts and Funding Cuts On April 17, 2025, the Trump administration attempted to cut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) workforce by approximately 90 percent, leaving only around 200 employees. The CFPB was formed in 2010 in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis and is tasked with protecting consumers in the financial sector by preventing abusive and deceptive practices. While the proposed shrinkage of the CFPB workforce was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, this move is the most recent action by the Trump administration signaling a shift toward deregulation and a reduced mission for the CFPB, leaving enforcement and supervision of financial entities to the states. Similarly, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced this week that more than 1,200 employees would be cut as part of the Trump...

Gibbons SFY 2026 Report: New Jersey Department of Health Presents Its FY 2026 Budget Proposal

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Posted in State Budget

On April 10, 2025

This is the first in a series of posts that offers a detailed look into the budget proposals for the major departments that constitute the state government. On April 3, 2025, and April 7, 2025, New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston appeared before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the General Assembly Budget Committee, respectively, to testify and take questions on the NJDOH’s $1.4 billion proposed FY 2026 State budget. Backdrop of Federal Funding Cuts Last week, the Trump administration sought to cut over $11 billion in public health grants allocated to U.S. states during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Trump administration’s efforts have been temporarily halted by a federal judge, the grant funding at risk is used by states to track, prevent, and control infectious diseases, including measles and bird flu. Commissioner Baston testified that nearly $300 million was cut from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was earmarked, in part, for local public health department funding. The Commissioner also highlighted that the funding supported direct care and disease and addiction prevention efforts. Investments in New Jersey’s Hospital and Health Care System The NJDOH’s Health Systems Branch oversees and ensures appropriate care in more than 2,000 regulated facilities statewide, including hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities....

Governor Murphy Proposes FY 2026 Budget Focused on Fiscal Responsibility and Planning for New Jersey’s Future

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Posted in State Budget

On February 26, 2025

Governor Phil Murphy presented his State FY 2026 Budget to a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday, February 25. This year’s address marks the final budget of Murphy’s eight years in office. The proposed budget totals $58.05 billion, which is $70 million less than the FY 2025 adjusted budget appropriation. The FY 2026 budget includes a $6.3 billion surplus and a structural deficit of $1.2 billion. The Governor’s budget address was centered around themes of fiscal responsibility and planning for future economic security and opportunities for all New Jerseyans. Governor Murphy reaffirmed his administration’s intentions to work in concert with the Trump administration. He noted, however, that there is a distinct possibility that New Jersey may need to adopt a “break the glass” strategy if New Jersey faces the harsh reality of losing billions of federal dollars for state programs. Affordability and Property Tax Relief Governor Murphy addressed rising costs and inflation in his address. The proposed budget aims to improve affordability by addressing property taxes and increasing access to housing. The budget includes $28.5 billion in direct and indirect property tax relief, including nearly $4.3 billion in direct property tax relief through programs such as the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) Property Tax Relief Program and the Senior Freeze...

“We’re from Jersey, Baby!” Governor Murphy Delivers the 2025 State of the State Address

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Posted in State Government

On January 15, 2025

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Phil Murphy delivered his seventh State of the State address at a joint session of the New Jersey Legislature. This address re-invoked the “stronger and fairer” New Jersey theme that marked Governor Murphy’s first term, imbued with the subtext of innovation. During the address, the Governor looked back at some of the events that have occurred while he has been in office, including a global pandemic, record high inflation, and the outbreak of two international conflicts. He also highlighted the State’s accomplishments as the “medicine chest to the world,” its growing entertainment and film industry, and its winning bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final. In all, Governor Murphy presented a broad scope of issues his administration seeks to work on during his final year in office. Those priorities include affordability and economic opportunity; childcare and education; healthcare and reproductive rights; transportation and infrastructure; the environment; the protection of fundamental rights; and criminal justice reform. Affordability and Economic Opportunity The Governor acknowledged the rising cost of living and efforts to make New Jersey more affordable. He highlighted programs such as ANCHOR (geared toward property tax relief) and RetireReady NJ (a publicly run retirement savings program), as well as a higher minimum wage rate that has nearly doubled since he took...

A Look Ahead: The 221st Legislature and State of the State Address

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Posted in State Government / State Legislation

On January 10, 2024

On Tuesday, the 221st Legislature commenced in Trenton. The Senate welcomed 10 new Senators to the chamber, namely: Sen. Carmen Amato, Jr. (LD9); Sen. John Burzichelli (LD3); Sen. Owen Henry (LD12); Sen. John McKeon (LD27); Sen. Angela McKnight (LD31); Sen. Paul Moriarty (LD4); Sen. Raj Mukherji (LD32); Sen. Parker Space (LD24); Sen. Britnee Timberlake (LD34); and Sen. Latham Tiver (LD8). Senators McKeon, McKnight, Moriarty, Mukherji, Space, and Timberlake each moved over to the Senate after serving in the General Assembly during the last session. Sen. Nick Scutari, of Union County, was elected to continue as Senate President, and Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, of Essex County, will continue as the Senate Majority Leader. Sen. Shirley Turner, of Mercer County, has been named President Pro Tempore, a position she previously held twice, and Sen. Anthony Bucco, of Morris County, will continue as the Senate Minority Leader.

The Gibbons Government & Regulatory Affairs Group’s 2023 General Election Recap

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Posted in Elections

On November 8, 2023

Many political pundits predicted that the 2023 General Election would mirror the 2021 vote, when Republicans picked up seats in the State Legislature by defeating incumbent legislators. A historical repeat seemed possible since the Legislature was running in new districts under a “consensus” map agreed to by both parties, recent polling data has indicated that President Biden has become less popular in New Jersey, and the issues at the forefront created opportunities for the minority party. The most closely watched legislative districts were Districts 3 and 4 in the southern part of the state, Districts 11 and 16 in the central region, and District 38 in northern New Jersey. It was the Democrats, however, who flipped the script from 2021 and ended up gaining five seats in the State House by holding off challengers and defeating incumbent and favored Republican candidates: In Legislative District 3 (Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland Counties), incumbent Republican Senator Ed Durr lost to former State Assemblyman John Burzichelli. Senator-elect Burzichelli’s running mates for the Assembly, Heather Simmons and Dave Bailey, appear on track to defeat incumbent Republican Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick and Thomas Tedesco. These results will flip the Third District from Republican to Democrat. With three open seats in Legislative District 4 (Camden/Gloucester Counties), incumbent Assemblyman Paul Moriarty won an open Senate seat...

Governor Murphy Delivers His Fifth State of the State Address

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Posted in Elections

On January 11, 2023

For the first time since 2020, Governor Murphy delivered his State of the State address yesterday in person at a joint session of the New Jersey Legislature. Unlike his prior State of the State addresses, which focused on his first-term theme of a “stronger and fairer” New Jersey, this fifth address brought a new refrain – New Jersey as a State of Opportunity. A significant portion of the Governor’s speech focused on the areas where the state is providing opportunities or leading. He identified areas such as economic development, criminal justice reform, reproductive freedom, youth mental health, opioid use recovery, and clean energy as major policy initiatives in this regard. The Governor painted New Jersey as a “business friendly” state, highlighting New Jersey’s job growth over the past two years and the current unemployment rate, which is below the national average. The Governor also touted New Jersey’s growing gross domestic product, asserting that the state’s third quarter 2022 growth was the highest in the northeast region and 10th highest in the nation. Governor Murphy stated that New Jersey is a leader in new and emerging industries, such as wind energy, cannabis, online gaming, and financial technology, while continuing to cultivate legacy industries, such as life sciences, that have long had a presence here. In his...

Governor Murphy Presents His Fiscal Year 2023 Budget

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Posted in State Government

On March 9, 2022

Governor Murphy presented his Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget to a joint session of the State Legislature in a live address for the first time since February 2020. The proposed budget totals $48.9 billion – a $2.5 billion increase over the FY 2022 budget – and includes a $4.2 billion surplus, which is nearly double the surplus included in last year’s budget. The proposal does not include any new taxes or fees. In fact, the Governor’s spending plan includes a one-year fee holiday to waive fees typically assessed for driver’s license renewals, marriage licenses, state park entry, and license fee applications or renewals for roughly 130,000 professionals across the health care spectrum. The Governor themed his budget address around one word: Affordability. This became a key issue in the 2021 gubernatorial and legislative election, and is something both the Governor and legislative leaders identified as their priority for the current legislative session. The budget proposal looks to improve affordability in the State by addressing property taxes and access to housing. It appropriates $900 million for the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) Property Tax Relief Program, which proposes to provide property tax rebates to both homeowners and tenants. Additionally, the Governor’s budget allocates $300 million to the Affordable Housing Protection Fund to...

A Look at the 220th Legislature and Annual State of the State Address

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Posted in State Government

On January 14, 2022

On January 11, 2022, New Jersey began a new legislative session marked by the Legislature’s reorganization and the Governor’s State of the State Address. Legislative Reorganization Democrats retained control of both houses, albeit with much smaller margins after Republicans managed to win back several seats in the November elections. Democrats now hold a 24 to 16 majority in the Senate and a 46 to 34 majority in the General Assembly. The Senate has new leadership for the first time in twelve years, with Senator Nicholas Scutari of Union County being sworn in as the Senate President and Senator Teresa Ruiz of Essex County becoming the Senate Majority Leader. Senator Sandra Cunningham of Hudson County remains the Senate President Pro Tempore. Senator Steven Oroho of Sussex County is now the Republican Leader, replacing Tom Kean, Jr., who did not run for reelection in order to focus on his campaign for the 7th Congressional District. The Senate also welcomed five new members. Senators Jon Bramnick (R-21), Gordon Johnson (D-37), Jean Stanfield (R-8), and Andrew Zwicker (D-16) all previously served in the General Assembly. Senator Ed Durr (R-3) has not previously held elective office. In the Assembly, Craig Coughlin of Middlesex County and Louis Greenwald of Camden County will continue as Speaker and Majority Leader, respectively, for another...

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