Governor Murphy Announces Suite of New Proposals to Expand Access to Early Childhood Education and Support Working Families

Joined by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, and Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, Governor Murphy visited Maurice Hawk Elementary School in West Windsor to underscore his continued commitment to furthering access to free, high-quality preschool and kindergarten programs, enabling young learners in communities across New Jersey to start their educational careers on strong footing. Senator Shirley Turner and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli also joined the announcement.

“One week ago, during my State of the State Address, I announced that our Administration will be taking a new step to ensure that every school district in New Jersey offers free, full-day kindergarten. Paired with a second initiative to codify preschool funding, we are paving the way for both universal pre-k and free full-day kindergarten in our state,” said Governor Murphy. “By working with our partners in the State Legislature, including Majority Leader Ruiz and Assembly Members Katz and Stanley, we are going to strengthen early childhood education, alleviate the burden of child care costs on parents, and ensure all children in New Jersey benefit from the same strong start when it comes to their education. We owe it to the children and families that call New Jersey ‘home’ to continue building a public education system that lifts up every single one of our state’s children – no matter their zip code or their family’s socioeconomic status.”

“The research is clear: access to early childhood education is an educational imperative, crucial for the development of our youngest learners while providing relief to our state’s working families,” said Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “These legislative initiatives will provide every child access to full-day kindergarten and detail the continued expansion of preschool to all of our communities – this underscores our commitment to ensuring every student has the strong foundation they need to thrive academically and beyond. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future for all New Jersey children.”

Since the beginning of his Administration, Governor Murphy has made it a priority to set New Jersey firmly on course for achieving universal, free preschool in all school districts. Over the past seven years, funding for public preschool has increased by over $550 million, with New Jersey currently spending $1.2 billion to stand up and sustain programs in communities across the state. Since year one of the Administration, 229 additional districts have been added to State-funded preschool programs; meaning now, 293 or about half of New Jersey’s elementary-serving school districts offer free, high-quality preschool, whether that is in partnership with childcare providers or in elementary schools.

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Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Establishing Rape Kit Tracking System

Governor Phil Murphy signed S715/A908, which requires the Office of the Attorney General to establish an internet-based rape kit tracking system. The bill, which unanimously passed both the Senate and General Assembly before reaching the Governor’s desk, requires the Attorney General to issue guidelines or a directive establishing a sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit tracking system accessible to the victim; State, county, or municipal law enforcement officers; and, as deemed appropriate, employees of a health care facility or laboratory.

“Survivors of sexual assault who show strength and resilience in coming forward deserve recognition and support,” said Governor Murphy. “This well overdue bill cements into law the work our Administration has undertaken to support survivors. Through the groundwork laid by the Office of the Attorney General, in collaboration with the Division of Violence Intervention and Victim Assistance, the Division of Criminal Justice, and other law enforcement officials, survivors will have access to a dedicated tracking system to stay informed through every step of their pursuit of justice.”

“In New Jersey, we understand the impact of sexual assault victimization and have been implementing survivor-centered, trauma-informed policies in response,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “In March 2023, we issued a Directive that expands the amount of time we retain SAFE kits and have since required all kits submitted to law enforcement with the survivors consent be brought to the lab for analysis. In 2023, LPS secured federal funding to create a sexual assault kit tracking system that will provide more transparency and autonomy to those who have been harmed. For more than a year, we have been coordinating with multiple State agencies to implement this system. We thank the Legislature and Governor Murphy for sharing these priorities.”

In 2023, Attorney General Platkin announced the receipt of $2 million in competitive federal funding to establish an advanced tracking system for the state’s SAFE kits.

Later that year, Attorney General Platkin issued a statewide law enforcement directive to ensure that sexual assault survivors have access to the medical, investigative, and supportive services they need and deserve, and that evidence collected in sexual assault cases is preserved and processed in a victim-centered and efficient manner. This directive extended the required retention period for evidence, including DNA evidence, from sexual assault medical examinations from five years to 20 years; established statewide procedures and guidelines for tracking, storing, and determining how and when such evidence is submitted for testing; and mandated that all SAFE Kits provided to law enforcement with a victim’s consent be submitted to the forensic laboratory for testing.

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Murphy Administration Celebrates 5 Gigawatt Solar Energy Milestone – More Than Doubling Solar Energy Output Since 2017

The Murphy Administration celebrated a major milestone in its clean energy transition. In December 2024, the state achieved 5 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity, more than doubling its solar energy output since 2017. This significant accomplishment underscores New Jersey’s role as a national leader in climate action and clean energy innovation, reinforcing Governor Phil Murphy’s commitment to protecting New Jersey from harmful emissions, increasing affordability, revitalizing communities, and catalyzing economic development.

“With this milestone achievement in solar energy, we are building a strong foundation for renewable energy while combating the imminent threat of climate change and propelling our state forward on 100% clean electricity. By expanding solar programs and resources for homes and businesses, we are taking a whole-of-government approach to making solar energy more affordable and accessible than ever before,” said Governor Murphy.

Last year, Governor Murphy announced an additional $156 million from the U.S. EPA to deliver an additional 175 megawatts of solar energy to benefit 22,000 low-income households, resulting in approximately $250 million in total energy bill savings over 30 years for residents in newly connected households. In an effort to further incentivize the redevelopment of brownfields across New Jersey into new solar energy facilities, the Governor’s Office released a “Landfill to Solar” resource page to provide municipal governments and solar developers with a step-by-step guide to completing solar projects.

“Achieving the 5 GW milestone represents more than just a number,” said Christine Guhl-Sadovy, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). “Doubling the amount of installed solar capacity and crossing 5 GW since Governor Murphy took office reflects the hard work and commitment of the NJBPU to bolstering our solar sector and the thousands of good, local jobs it employs while transitioning New Jersey to a clean energy future.”

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First Lady Tammy Murphy Convenes Hospital Leaders In Commemoration of 7th Annual New Jersey Maternal Health Awareness Day

In recognition of Maternal Health Awareness Day in New Jersey, First Lady Tammy Murphy convened hospital leaders from across the state for a roundtable discussion on maternal health care priorities for the coming year. During the discussion, the First Lady, Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Kaitlan Baston, Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA) President and CEO Lisa Asare, and the hospital representatives participated in an open dialogue on ongoing efforts to transform New Jersey into the national gold standard for maternal health, including through the work of Nurture NJ; the expansion of New Jersey's universal nurse home visitation program, Family Connects NJ; the establishment of MIHIA; and clinical quality improvement strategies.

Prior to the roundtable discussion, each hospital partner signed the 2025 Nurture NJ Maternal Health Awareness Day Pledge, formally committing birthing hospitals statewide to actionable steps that will bring New Jersey closer to the goals of Nurture NJ. The pledge seeks to implement nationally-recognized accepted best practices to address the leading causes of pregnancy-associated and pregnancy-related death and to promote shared decision-making and team-based care. These best practices include implementing Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) patient safety bundles for a leading cause like cardiac conditions and substance use; implementing Team Birth, a shared decision-making model; furthering integrating doula team-based care within the hospital system; and creating integrated birthing provider groups.

“As we observe the 7th annual Maternal Health Awareness Day in New Jersey and the 6th anniversary of our Nurture NJ initiative, I am proud to join with all 46 of New Jersey's labor and delivery hospitals to reaffirm our shared commitment to making New Jersey the national gold standard of maternal and infant health,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “There is no doubt that New Jersey’s maternal and infant health care system is in a stronger position than it was just seven years ago, and that progress is thanks to the dedication of our many Nurture NJ partners. Today’s roundtable discussion and collective pledge continue to propel our work toward our goal of making New Jersey the safest, most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.”

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Governor Murphy and AG Platkin Announce Recipients of $14.5 Million in Grant Funding for Violence Intervention and Prevention Work

Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that up to $14.5 million in grant funding will be distributed to twenty-seven (27) organizations to support New Jersey’s Community-Based Violence Intervention (CBVI) Program. Funding for this initiative has been made possible through the State’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, primarily from the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Fund, as well as through federal American Rescue Plan funds. To date, the Department of Law and Public Safety’s (the Department) total commitment to community violence intervention efforts, which includes CBVI, Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs, and Trauma Recovery Centers, now nears $130 million.

Established in 2021, CBVI’s initial funding was allocated as part of Governor Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget. As CBVI enters its fourth program year, the Murphy Administration’s nearly $55 million investment allows CBVI to continue supporting the State’s comprehensive public safety strategy. Through a public health approach to violence prevention, these programs put resources in the hands of community-based organizations who employ strategies that disrupt cycles of violence. Together, they are forming a continuum of prevention services from targeted programs for at-risk youth to street intervention initiatives.

“I am thrilled to see the Community-Based Violence Intervention Program enter its fourth year providing lifesaving services in communities across New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “As Attorney General Platkin and I highlighted earlier this year, gun violence in 2024 reached historic lows in our state, thanks in part to programs like CBVI. The program has played a role in addressing the root causes of violence through targeted interventions and community partnerships. Our Administration, in collaboration with our community partners, will continue to do what we can to reduce violence in our communities so that our friends and neighbors do not have to worry about their safety.”

“Since I took office, I’ve made it a priority to use all available tools and innovations to combat gun violence. Our transformational approach to public safety is working: the last two years have marked historic reductions in shootings, and the community-led solutions we fund are a critical part of that strategy,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Governor Murphy’s support and the State’s continued investment in community violence intervention programming has established New Jersey as a leader in prevention. The grants announced today will continue an approach of making smart investments in interventions and organizations that do lifesaving work.”

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