2025 Election Guide
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Acting Governor Way Declares State of Emergency for Flash Flooding and Severe Thunderstorms Across New Jersey
Acting Governor Tahesha Way declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025, due to the potential for flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, intense rainfall, and damaging wind gusts. Executive Order No. 394 declared a State of Emergency across all 21 counties, closing state offices early and allowing for resources to be deployed throughout the state during the duration of the storm.
Statement by Governor Murphy and Department of Education Commissioner Dehmer on the Release of Over $140 Million in Federal Education Funding for New Jersey Schools
Following the U.S. Department of Education releasing $158 million in previously withheld education funding to New Jersey, Governor Murphy and Education Commissioner Dehmer released the following statement:
“After improperly withholding funds for nearly one month, the Trump Administration recently released over $6 billion in funding for public education across the country. This includes over $140 million that our State’s best-in-the-nation public school system relies on to deliver top-notch education and support services for our students.
“School districts in New Jersey utilize these funds to provide critical supports to uplift our students, including summer, after-school, and literacy programming, tutoring services, counseling, and teacher training.
“While we are thankful that the Trump Administration has made the appropriate decision to release this education funding, the untenable delay in obligating the funding and the departure from past practice is cause for serious concern. New Jersey school districts depend on predictable funding to ensure students receive the services they need and to plan for the upcoming school year.
“We applaud Attorney General Platkin and the members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation who put pressure on the Trump Administration and advocated for the swift release of federal education funding. New Jersey will continue to be a staunch advocate for our school communities in the face of continued uncertainty.”
Attorney General Platkin Sues Trump Administration for Blocking Planned Parenthood From Receiving Medicaid Funding
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin joined a coalition of 21 states in suing the Trump Administration over a provision of the sweeping budget reconciliation law (“Big Beautiful Bill”) that unconstitutionally blocks federal Medicaid funding for essential healthcare services, such as cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing, at Planned Parenthood health centers across the country, including in New Jersey.
“The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans’ blocking of Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood health centers is a direct attack on individuals who rely on accessible, affordable healthcare,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This decision strips away essential care—including comprehensive family planning services, cancer screenings, sexually transmitted disease testing, and more—for some of our nation’s most vulnerable populations. In New Jersey, we will continue to fight to ensure all have access to the healthcare services that they need.”
“It’s frankly outrageous that Congress and the Trump Administration have targeted essential reproductive health care services for millions of women as part of their radical anti-reproductive freedom agenda. We will not stand idly by as this Administration recklessly threatens access to lifesaving medical care,” said Attorney General Platkin. “New Jerseyans rely on Planned Parenthood health centers to receive cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, birth control, and wellness exams. This unlawful attempt to block federal Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood would make those services much harder to access for many of our state’s low-income residents. We are suing to block this unconstitutional statute and restore access to essential reproductive health care in New Jersey.”
Murphy Administration Announces Availability of $30 Million in Natural Climate Solutions Grants
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced the availability of $30 million in Natural Climate Solutions grants for local governments and nonprofits to create, restore, and enhance New Jersey’s coastal wetlands, forests and urban tree canopies.
This second round of grants, combined with the initial funding round, brings total Natural Climate Solutions funding to $54.3 million to date. The funding supports natural solutions that sequester carbon through projects such as constructing living shorelines; restoring tidal wetlands, salt marshes, aquatic vegetation and forests; and improving urban tree canopies. It represents a key component of New Jersey’s strategy to achieve its 2050 goal of an 80-percent reduction in greenhouse gases below 2006 levels.
“This unique program empowers communities across New Jersey to pursue natural ways of reducing climate pollutants that worsen the effects of our changing climate,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said. “By investing in blue and green carbon projects, we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the resilience of our coastal and forested landscapes, ensuring cleaner air and healthier communities for generations to come.”