Governor Murphy Visits Hoboken High School, Highlights Legislation Allowing 16 and 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Local School Board Elections

During a visit to Hoboken High School, Governor Phil Murphy reiterated his support of legislation, S3240/A4369, that would enable 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in their local school board elections.

Joined by the legislation’s first prime sponsors, Senator Raj Mukherji and Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, the Governor participated in an AP Government and Politics lesson on the foundational documents of the United States of America. Following the class, the Governor spoke to students about the importance of civic engagement and the power of making one’s voice heard at the polls.

“I am constantly amazed by New Jersey’s remarkable young people, and I believe they deserve the opportunity to meaningfully engage with our democratic system. In New Jersey, we have made it a priority to expand access to the vote by instituting early in-person voting and establishing online voter registration, among other critical reforms, because all eligible voters should have the opportunity to cast their ballots in our elections,” said Governor Murphy. “Local school board elections directly impact the day-to-day lives of 16 and 17-year-old students, and we have the opportunity to instill in them the lifelong value of voting. Casting your ballot is a simple and effective way to help shape the future. I look forward to the day this bill lands on my desk.”

This legislation would build on the Governor’s efforts to enfranchise young people in New Jersey. Earlier this year, Governor Murphy signed the “New Voter Empowerment Act,” allowing any registered voter who is 17 years of age by the time of a primary election to vote in that primary if they turn 18 years old on or before the next general election.

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Governor Murphy Announces Over $25 Million in Additional Opioid Response Investments

Governor Phil Murphy announced the allocation of more than $25 million from New Jersey’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to support additional efforts tackling the opioid crisis, including expanding legal services for those in recovery, enhancing youth substance use treatment and prevention, and boosting emergency response efforts.

The newly allocated funding builds upon more than $95 million in opioid settlement spending announced earlier this year.

“While our collective battle against the overdose epidemic is far from over, we have made tremendous progress in expanding evidence-based care and community-informed support to more New Jerseyans. With today’s announcement, we are reaffirming our commitment to support both individuals and communities that continue to face the tragic impacts of the overdose crisis,” said Governor Murphy. “By leveraging the State’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, we are expanding programs with a proven success record to more New Jersey communities over the next three years and bolstering our preparedness to respond to new opioid-related public health challenges. These crucial investments will save lives and help our neighbors struggling with addiction, wherever they are on their journey to recovery.”

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Murphy Administration Jumpstarts Electric School Buses by Announcing $15 Million First-Round Funding for Bus Purchases

In celebration of National Drive Electric Week, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced the first-round award of $15 million in grants for local purchases of 48 electric school buses in New Jersey, marking the state’s first comprehensive commitment of funding for these zero-emission buses that will better protect the health of schoolchildren and communities. National Drive Electric Week is a weeklong outreach event to raise awareness and educate the public on the availability and benefits of all-electric and hybrid vehicles.

In addition to funding for bus purchases, the Commissioner announced the first participants in the New Jersey Fleet Advisor program, a free service that provides experts from DEP’s contractor CALSTART to help any New Jersey fleets operating 20 or fewer vehicles develop a plan to transition their medium- and heavy-duty trucks to zero-emission electric trucks, with a focus on fleets in overburdened communities. Fleets that may benefit from this program include small school districts, charter schools, sanitation programs, EMS squads, municipal utilities authorities, refrigerated goods movement, local shuttles, and delivery services.

“It is our responsibility as elected officials to ensure that the vehicles carrying our children to school do not adversely affect their health outcomes as they grow. That’s why my Administration has dedicated $30 million to date to ensuring that those vehicles are powered by clean energy,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “These grants are a testament to my Administration’s continued commitment to environmental justice, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle electrification, and the protection of families from harmful pollution.”

“Diesel-fueled vehicles emit toxic particles into our communities causing air pollution which directly impacts our children developmentally before they are even born,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “These grants for zero-emission buses are investments in the health and safety of our mothers, babies and families.”

“Children, whose lungs are still developing, are most vulnerable to the harmful health effects of poor air quality, yet millions of them are transported to and from school every day in buses that release harmful diesel emissions,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “It is critical that our school buses be equipped with the latest technology to protect them. The DEP congratulates grant recipients for their commitment to the health of our children and looks forward to helping school districts and fleet operators as we work together to grow the use of electric school buses and trucks.”

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As 2024 Presidential Election Approaches, Lt. Governor Way and Attorney General Platkin Issue Guidance on How to Recognize Political “Deepfakes” Designed to Misinform and Manipulate Voters

With the presidential election approaching, Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way (in her capacity as Secretary of State) and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued guidance to help New Jersey residents identify and avoid spreading deepfake photos, videos, and audio that use generative AI technologies to spread misinformation aimed at manipulating and misleading voters.

To prevent AI-generated technology from maliciously interfering with the upcoming presidential election, Lt. Governor Way­ and Attorney General Platkin are raising public awareness of how deepfakes can be used to spread false or misleading information about candidates, political parties, and the voting process itself, including where to vote, or even who has the right to vote. The guidance also educates voters on how to spot and avoid spreading deepfakes, and where to report them.

“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and preserving the integrity of that process is paramount,” said Attorney General Platkin. “By raising the public’s awareness of political deepfakes, we are minimizing this potential threat to our electoral process and providing New Jersey voters with critical tools to help them cast their ballot with confidence.”

“As the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, it is more crucial than ever to protect our electoral process from the growing threats of mis-, dis-, and mal-information,” said Lieutenant Governor Way, who serves as New Jersey’s chief election official in her capacity as Secretary of State. “Generative AI has made it easier to produce political deepfakes—whether through manipulated images, videos, or voices—that mislead and deceive voters. This initiative is a vital step in helping voters recognize these tactics and ensuring the integrity of our free and fair elections.”

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New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Welcomes Additional Oversight with Consent Decree for Veterans Homes

The U.S. Department of Justice and the State of New Jersey jointly filed a consent decree in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. As part of this agreement, a third-party federal monitor will be appointed to the Veterans Memorial Homes at Menlo Park and Paramus, two long-term care facilities operated by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
 
“We welcome this additional input and oversight. We’re committed to making sure our veterans have the best possible care and quality of life at all three of our Veterans Homes,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “With this consent decree, we can resolve past differences with the Department of Justice and focus our efforts on providing the best possible care to our Veterans Homes residents. I’m proud of the progress we have made and remain determined to not only meet federal standards but to exceed them.”
 
“This agreement between the State of New Jersey and the U.S. Department of Justice is the result of months of constructive conversations on how best to care for the Veterans, Veteran Spouses, and Gold Star Families who call our facilities home,” said Col. Yvonne Mays, the Acting Commissioner of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The veterans homes at Menlo Park and Paramus have made significant progress confirmed by repeated, independent inspections conducted by the New Jersey Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We look forward to continuing our important work and we welcome this partnership with a federal monitor.”

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