Governor Murphy Signs the Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act

Governor Phil Murphy signed the Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act which will help New Jersey families avoid falling into medical debt and protect individuals from predatory medical debt collectors. The Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act is named in honor of Louisa Carman, a member of the Governor’s Office who helped craft the proposal before tragically passing away in a car accident on New Year’s Day at the age of 25. Joined by Louisa’s family and advocates, the Governor signed the bill, advancing his Administration’s efforts to make New Jersey’s health care system more accessible and more affordable for more people.

“With this legislation, we honor Louisa by carrying forward her mission to ensure every New Jerseyan can access the health care they deserve without breaking the bank,” said Governor Murphy. “The Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act is a monumental step toward building a health care system that is more affordable and more accessible for families all across New Jersey. And it will always stand as a testament to the indispensable role Louisa played in transforming our health care system for the better, so we can protect all of our neighbors from being forced to choose between seeking potentially life-saving care or falling into a medical debt trap.”

“Louisa joined the Governor’s Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency in the fall of 2021, and immediately set herself apart as a quick learner and fierce advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said the Bradlow Carman Family. “She inspired her colleagues — as well as her friends and family members — to adopt her passion for combatting predatory medical debt collection and ending the indignity of medical debt. We thank Governor Murphy, the bill sponsors, as well as the advocates who ensured that this legislation would be a meaningful and lasting testament to Louisa’s heart, brilliance, and passion for fighting for families struggling with medical debt.”

“Louisa will be remembered as a young, bright, passionate public servant who cared deeply about policy making to improve people’s lives,” said Shabnam Salih, Director of the Office of Health Care Affordability. “Her work gave us the foundation for the critical consumer protections against medical debt provided through this legislation and her work will live on to help so many individuals and their families to be less burdened by the crushing impact of medical debt.”

This bill prohibits a medical creditor or medical debt collector from reporting a patient’s medical debt to any consumer reporting agency for health care services performed on or after the effective date of the bill.

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Governor Murphy and U.S. Department of Treasury Announce New Jersey Will Join IRS Direct File

Governor Phil Murphy and United States Department of the Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo announced that, beginning in Filing Season 2025, New Jersey residents will be able to utilize Direct File to submit their federal tax returns. More than 1.3 million New Jerseyans will be eligible to use the free online filing tool during the next Filing Season.
 
“The Direct File tool is revolutionary to our federal tax filing process, and it will make a world of difference for taxpayers in New Jersey and across the country. Every year, when tax season rolls around, people are forced to put on their personal accounting hats. For many this can be a stressful—and expensive—time,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “By cutting costly, for-profit tax filing software out of the equation with the free Direct File tool, we are saving individuals and families in our state time and money. I commend the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service for making this critical resource available, and I am thrilled that it will be an option for New Jerseyans in the coming Filing Season.”
 
“Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, more than 1 million New Jerseyans will be able to file their taxes online for free, directly with the IRS in Filing Season 2025. Direct File will save New Jersey taxpayers time and money and help ensure they receive the tax benefits for which they are eligible,” said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Direct File is one of the many ways the Biden-Harris Administration is working to lower costs in everyday life, and we are pleased to welcome New Jersey as the next state to offer this new free option to taxpayers.” 
 
On the heels of a successful pilot run during the 2024 Filing Season, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are making Direct File a permanent, free tax filing option available to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, beginning in Filing Season 2025. During its pilot run in 12 states, Direct File enabled 140,000 taxpayers to claim more than $90 million in refunds, saving an estimated $5.6 billion in filing costs.

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Governor Murphy Signs Legislation to Spur Investment in New Jersey's AI Sector

Governor Phil Murphy signed A4558/S3432, establishing the Next New Jersey Program that will attract new investment into the state’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry, creating new jobs and economic opportunities. The program will unlock access to capital for New Jersey’s innovators and entrepreneurs and ensure they have access to the infrastructure necessary to make new, cutting-edge developments, which will position the state as a national leader in the industry.

“AI has already started to revolutionize our everyday lives, and New Jersey is capitalizing on this moment to ensure we establish ourselves as a frontrunner in generative AI innovation,” said Governor Murphy. “The creation of this program will support the growth of AI-related businesses, which could lead to scientific breakthroughs and lifesaving discoveries right in our backyard. AI will be a transformative industry that will change lives and grow our economy and New Jersey is ready to take the lead.”

The Next New Jersey Program will be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), which will award tax credits to eligible businesses that are engaged in artificial intelligence work or large-scale artificial intelligence data centers. Artificial intelligence related activities could include developing new algorithms and techniques, such as machine learning and natural language processing; creating AI-powered software and hardware products, including for medical modeling; and developing AI chatbots for customer service.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has been making major investments in emerging industries to help create sustainable, long-term economic growth,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The Next New Jersey Program will build upon the Garden State’s longstanding legacy in innovation and drive the state’s prominence in the rapidly growing AI industry, and create a strategic advantage for our innovators. AI presents an opportunity for new industry development in the state, good-paying jobs for our residents, and a stronger and more diverse economy for the next generation.”

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Governors Murphy, Lamont, Moore, Carney Celebrate Major Federal Funding Award for Investments in Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Charging Infrastructure to Meet Emissions Reduction Goals

On Monday July 22, the Biden-Harris Administration announced recipients of over $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland were announced as recipients for $249 million in federal funding for the Clean Corridor Coalition, a project to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles on the Interstate-95 freight corridor and adjacent roadways.

“The steps we take today to lower emissions from heavy duty vehicles along New Jersey’s transportation corridors will improve air quality in our communities, while mitigating climate impacts well into the future,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Building out charging infrastructure along the I-95 corridor is key to advancing those goals. We are thankful to the Biden-Harris Administration and the members of our congressional delegation who supported the Inflation Reduction Act for this important funding which will help us facilitate New Jersey’s rapid transition to an electric vehicle future, support workforce development, and provide benefits to our overburdened communities.”

"Building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future isn't just the right thing to do for our planet -- it's also the right thing to do for our people," said Governor Moore. "This new federal investment will help us create jobs, cut emissions, and build new pathways to prosperity for all. Maryland is grateful for the support of our partners in the Biden-Harris Administration and along the eastern seaboard. Together, we will make sure that the transition to clean energy leaves no one behind."

“Connecticut’s freight corridor from New York to the Massachusetts border along I-95 to I-91 to I-84 is vital to our regional economy,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “It also runs through the heart of many of our largest cities, where higher levels of diesel emissions contribute to higher rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, America’s clean energy transition is underway. This Clean Corridor will improve the health and quality of life for the families in these communities by reducing diesel pollution, fighting climate change, and keeping our economy running smoothly. I thank New Jersey for leading this coalition and Maryland and Delaware for their collaboration. Regional collaboration is what made this historic investment of EPA CPRG funding possible.” 

“Delaware is working to transition to a clean energy future to reduce pollution and take on climate change. Addressing transportation emissions, which is a major portion of the air pollution in Delaware, is a critical part of that effort,” said Governor John Carney. “These federal resources to make charging available to larger commercial vehicles travelling I-95 will help make the air cleaner for communities in Delaware. I am proud of our partnership with our neighbor states, and I’m thankful to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the congressional delegation for the infrastructure funding that continues to make a difference for Delawareans.”

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Murphy Administration Seeks NJ Worker Input on Generative AI

In a national first, New Jersey is consulting workers in the state about generative artificial intelligence. Given the technology’s potential to transform the nature of work and the skills needed to succeed, the State of New Jersey’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force seeks to hear directly from workers about their hopes and concerns about the technology. The results will inform the Task Force’s recommendations to the Governor.

The survey, available at NJ.gov/aisurvey, asks residents to provide their input on what they believe are the most important challenges and opportunities when it comes to artificial intelligence in the workplace. 

“There is no question that Generative AI has the potential to transform our society and impact workers across industries – not just those in the tech sector,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Generative Artificial intelligence can be used to improve the day-to-day lives of New Jerseyans. This survey will ensure that our residents’ voices are heard and used to influence our decisions, helping us develop the appropriate policies, opportunities, and guardrails.”

“Change is coming with Generative AI and workers will be on the frontlines, adapting to these radical shifts. So as we seek to prepare the State and its people for the future, we must put residents at the heart of any decision made about this technology,” said Beth Simone Noveck, the State of New Jersey's Chief AI Strategist. "By better understanding what workers hope artificial intelligence can accomplish and what they are wary of, we can help create a more empowering work environment and ensure this technology is used ethically and effectively.”

“As we work to leverage AI’s enormous potential, we must also safeguard our values and ensure all of New Jersey’s residents can benefit from this technology," said New Jersey State Chief Technology Officer and AI Task Force Co-Chair Chris Rein. “With this survey, we are making sure to include the voices of those directly impacted by artificial intelligence so that we can harness it in a way that is equitable, responsible, and secure.”

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