6 New Laws Likely Under New NJ Governor

It doesn't matter how old you are or where you live. Governor-elect Phil Murphy's election could change the way you live - in more ways than you think.

Several major initiatives offered by Murphy have already been proposed by the state Legislature - virtually guaranteeing that they will be passed under the new administration.

Murphy has been appearing with state Democratic leaders and has made clear, during press conferences and elsewhere, what he expects to pass soon after he starts in January.

Murphy, who defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, will be sworn-in on Jan. 16, 2018.

Here are some of those initiatives and pieces of legislation that could be passed very soon:

• $15 minimum wage: Murphy appeared at a press conference with the state's legislative leaders on Monday to repeat his vow to raise the minimum wage to $15 within four years. Appearing with state Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker-designate Craig Coughlin, Murphy said he plans to phase in the increase from $8.44 to $15. Murphy said the current minimum wage is "barely above" the poverty line for even a two-income couple. "If you do the math, $15 is hardly heroic," said Murphy
• Marijuana legalization: Murphy's victory in the governor's race means that marijuana legalization is a practical certainty in New Jersey. Since Murphy made marijuana legalization a central part of his platform, there will likely be a way to purchase it somehow, someway in New Jersey possibly by late next year. Legislation could be passed by April, and Sweeney says his goal was to get a pot legalization measure passed within 100 days of the Murphy administration. The man who sponsored the legislation to legalize marijuana, Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, told reporters that Murphy's election means "it's full-steam ahead" on the measure. Read more here...
• Tighter gun laws: Murphy appeared earlier this month with former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who shot during a shooting rampage, and called for greater restrictions on access to firearms by those considered a danger to themselves or others and for expanding smart gun technology. Democrats in the state Legislature have made similar efforts to further tighten restrictions in the aftermath of several mass shootings, but they've been thwarted by Gov. Chris Christie, according to nj.com.
• Immigration: Murphy has said he'd consider making New Jersey a "sanctuary state" to protect undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children from being deported. If this were to happen, law enforcement officials in New Jersey would limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The idea is the sanctuary cities make communities safer because undocumented immigrants feel more comfortable speaking to police.
• Domestic violence: Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senator Bob Gordon that would provide emergency assistance to individuals or families that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to domestic violence, cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee this week. The bill, S-2845, modifies the existing law to guarantee emergency assistance to displaced families due to domestic violence. The bill would also clarify that the assistance is not restricted to individuals or families who have left their homes, but would be available in the event that a family remains in their residence but cannot pay rent due to the removal of a domestic violence aggressor.
• Behavioral health services: Two bills Assembly Democrats Gary Schaer, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Shavonda Sumter, Nicholas Chiaravalloti and Pamela Lampitt sponsored to significantly improve New Jersey’s approach to behavioral health crisis care by expanding services and access throughout the state were advanced this week by a Senate committee. The bills are the product of numerous roundtable discussions and meetings that Schaer held with professionals and stakeholders in the field of behavioral and mental health care.

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