5 Takeaways From Gov. Murphy's Penultimate State Of The State Address

TRENTON, NJ — An energetic Gov. Phil Murphy outlined his vision for his final year in office during his State of the State address, focusing on affordability and education.

The term-limited Democrat laid out priorities for the year ahead in front of a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday, at the Statehouse in Trenton.

After seven years in office, Murphy said that New Jersey is "strong, ascendant, and ready for our greatest chapter yet" — and that he was looking to accomplish a busy task list before leaving office next January.

"I'm not done yet, and we're not done yet," he said.

Senate and Assembly Republican leaders are slated to give their response at 4:30 p.m.

Here are some of the highlights:

Full-pay parental leave for state employees

Murphy said he will propose including money in the upcoming budget to give state employees full pay for up to 12 weeks while they are on parental leave to care for a new child. Currently, state employees on parental leave have a cap on how much they are paid every week.

The proposal would cost the state between $6 and $12 million per year, NJ Advance Media reported.

“This will ensure that these workers can continue earning a full salary while caring for a newborn during one of the most crucial stages of development,” Murphy said.

Road safety

After a rise in traffic deaths last year, Murphy said the state will work to make New Jersey's ten most "dangerous intersections" safer by the end of the year, and prevent more serious accidents.

Updating the state's driver education program to address cyclist and pedestrian safety was also part of the governor's vision for 2025, and he said he will work with legislators to do so.

Housing affordability

With the state's fourth round of affordable housing obligations set to start this year, Murphy said that he will call on the legislature to reform the state's permit and zoning laws to make it easier to build housing.

"By cutting red tape and easing outdated restrictions, we can build potentially thousands of new, affordable housing units over the next decade," he said.

Murphy also touted property tax relief programs such as ANCHOR, which he said have returned more than $14 billion to New Jersey residents since he took office.

Education

As preschool expansion efforts continue around the state, Murphy said he would enact a new law requiring all districts to provide full-day kindergarten, to help set children "on a path to lifelong success."

While most of the state's school districts already offer a full-day kindergarten program, some families and children are being "left behind," he said.

Speaking to the issue of youth mental health, Murphy said he would support a new proposal to ban cell phones from K-12 classrooms and help establish phone-free buildings.

"If you ask just about any educator, they will tell you that mobile devices are a distraction in the classroom," he said. "They are fueling a rise in cyberbullying. And they are making it incredibly difficult for our kids, not only to learn, but to retain the substance of what they learn."

Reproductive rights

With a Republican administration coming in to the White House, Murphy said New Jersey would take steps to remain a "safe haven for reproductive freedom."

The state will begin stockpiling a supply of the abortion drug Mifepristone and work to scrap out-of-pocket costs for abortion services, Murphy said.

"When it comes to protecting fundamental rights, I will not give an inch," he said.