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♪ From NJPBS Studios, this is NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi.

Joanna: Hello, thanks for joining us.

I'm Joanna Gagis, in for Briana Vannozzi, who has been at the Statehouse all day covering Governor Murphy's seventh state of the state address, where he outline his accomplishments over the last year and his priorities for the year to come, what will be his last year in the statehouse.

Murphy will have one more shot at the speech next year in what will be his goodbye speech after eight years in the governor's office, but today we heard his priorities that include a commitment to reform and boost affordable housing.

He called for full pay for all state workers who take parental leave, and he wants to require free full-day kindergarten across the state for the few districts that still do not have it.

Murphy also talked about banning cell phones in schools and addressed the need for road safety amid the recent surge in traffic deaths, just a few of his key agenda items for the year.

Here are some of his highlights from his speech.

Gov.

Murphy: So, as I stand before you today, I am honored to report that the state of New Jersey is strong, ascendant, and ready for our greatest chapter yet.

And that we have come far over the past seven years, let me be absolutely clear.

Our jobs are not done, not by a longshot.

During this final chapter of our journey, our absolute top priority, as it has been since day one, is delivering economic security and opportunity to every New Jerseyan.

Today, as I share my vision of the future of New Jersey, I want to start by acknowledging the elephant not in the room.

A few days, a new president will take power in Washington.

I know there is some uncertainty and even concern over what this new administration will bring, so here is my promise to the people of New Jersey.

I will never back away from partnering with the Trump Administration where our priorities align.

But, just as importantly, I will never back down from defending our New Jersey values if and when they are tested.

[APPLAUSE] We are not done yet when it comes to fighting for the working people of our state.

Over the next year, we are going to fight to ensure that every New Jerseyan has a fair shot at a brighter future.

With the help of everyone in this chamber, we are going to leave our state and our children a state that is better than we found it.

This mission begins where it always should, investing in the economic security of our families.

Starting this year, we will introduce a new paid parental leave policy for the tens of thousands of public servants who work in state government.

This will ensure that these workers can continue earning a full salary while caring for a newborn during one of the most crucial stages of development.

[APPLAUSE] So you may ask why we are doing this.

Because nobody should ever have to sacrifice their economic security in order to be a present and engaged parent.

But when it comes to caring for our children, we are not done yet.

Today I am announcing a suite of new proposals, each crafted to support our children at every stage of life, from the cradle to the college campus and beyond.

When I first ran for this office, I set the goal of putting New Jersey on a path to free universal pre-k. With the help of each of you, especially Senate majority leader Teresa Ruiz and a simile members Andrea Katz and Starley Stanley, we have done just that.

This year, we will not only move forward in reaching this goal.

I am going to work with you all to enact a new proposal requiring school districts to provide full-day kindergarten in the communities that still lack it.

[APPLAUSE] But one of the biggest barriers our families face when it comes to building wealth is the skyrocketing costs of housing.

That is why last year our administration works with all of you to pass the most sweeping affordable housing legislation in more than 40 years.

[APPLAUSE] And now, as we work to convert that landmark law into action, I am ready to work with you again to lower housing costs for New Jerseyans.

This year I am calling on the legislature with humility to reform our state's zoning and permitting loss with a number of proposals led by Senator Troy Singleton and his colleagues so we can make it easier to build new housing in the communities where it is needed the most, by cutting -- [APPLAUSE] By cutting red tape and easing outdated restrictions, we can build potentially thousands of new affordable housing units over the next decade.

A couple years ago, New Jersey worked proactively to protect abortion rights months before Roe was overturned.

Now we must secure a repetition -- our reputation as a safe haven for reproductive freedom.

[APPLAUSE] First, I am again calling on the legislature to pass a law that will scrap out-of-pocket costs for abortion procedures.

I want to thank Senate majority leader Teresa Ruiz and the assembly women for their leadership on this proposal.

[APPLAUSE] Additionally, and in light of the anti-choice policies supported by the current majorities in Congress, today I am also announcing that New Jersey will begin stockpiling a supply of Mifepristone so every woman can access this crucial form of reproductive care.

Right now, roughly 10% of our state's entire prison population consists of people who are being held behind bars for committing a technical parole violation, like missing a scheduled meeting or forgetting to report and move to another town.

No one should lose their freedom because of a technicality.

For that reason, I am asking you all to send to my desk a bill, led by us silly woman she explained -- led by assemblywoman Jimmy Spade, that will lead to reforms.

Just as many other states, including deep red states like Louisiana and South Carolina have already done, I am well aware that I have 370 one days before I leave office at a new governor takes Vuitton.

To some, that will be good news.

To all of us who have the privilege of telling the Garden State home, I will say I will dedicate every minute we have left working for you.

I challenge all of us to live and breathe a simple yet bold mission, to fight to ensure every one of our neighbors is economically secure enough to make their future in the Garden State.

To fight for every parent struggling to afford the cost of groceries, gas, housing, and a college education.

To fight for every child's find a middle right to a prosperous future and every worker's right to a dignified retirement, and to fight relentlessly to ensure that our laws protect the most vulnerable just as well as they protect our most powerful.

Because the vision has always been a stronger and fairer New Jersey, nothing less.

We are from Jersey, baby!

We never slow down.

Together we are going to run for the table.

Thank you so much.

God bless you all and your families, and may God continue to bless the great state of New Jersey and the United States of America!

[APPLAUSE] Joanna: As I mentioned, Briana Vannozzi was set up in the assembly chamber today during the state of the state speech, where all 120 members of New Jersey's legislature were gathered along with several of New Jersey's past governors, all tuning in to hear Governor Murphy's plans for the year ahead.

Throughout the day, senior political correspondent David Cruz was traversing the hallways, speaking with legislative leadership and others he ran into in the statehouse.

Rihanna and David are with us now to talk about the key moments from the speech and their big takeaways from the governor's address.

You all are in the hallway in the statehouse.

I want to talk about some of the things we heard from the speech today.

Hunters tend to use this speech has somewhat -- governors tend to use this speech has somewhat of a victory lap for the past year.

He has talked about how he has created a stronger and fairer New Jersey, creating more economic security for families, things like property tax relief through rebates, increasing wages, the retire ready and program that the state's first publicly run retirement program that he launched, but obviously some new things came out of today.

Briana, talk about what the governor just announced.

Briana: This is often a time for the governor to look back and look forward.

We saw items that have been hallmarks of this administration so that governor came out today talking about giving all state workers paid parental leave.

This would not apply to care for a sick loved one or family member, but it would apply to anyone with the birth of a new baby.

You would get the full scale of your pay.

That is capped at a little over $1000 a week for the full weeks you can take.

New Jersey has one of the most progressive policies in the nation when it comes to parental leave.

The governor looking to solidify his progressive bona fides.

But there were other items including full-day kindergarten.

Only 11 districts in the state do not offer full-day kindergarten, but you remember when Governor Murphy took office, three universal pre-k was a big linchpin and what he ought to achieve -- hoped to achieve.

This is something I took him as saying not only did I do that, but now I want to take it a step further.

David: A lot of the stuff we are talking about as far as kitchen table issues, affordability, etc., has really been the theme throughout this administration -- stronger, fairer, and a lot of these initiatives he announced today are -- I guess you could call them low hanging fruit, but we have to remember everybody in the assembly is up for reelection in the fall.

These are great opportunities for them to say look, we voted for this affordability item and this social justice item without having to go too far as far as they are concerned in terms of supporting controversial issues and so on.

Joanna: Speaking of a controversial issue, obviously affordable housing is perhaps one of the most controversial issues in the state.

The governor saying today he wants to reform zoning laws to allow the state to build more affordable housing.

Speak to that a bit.

Briana: The governor did address affordable housing.

This comes on the heels of a State report which issued the mandated number that towns are going to have to build in order to their obligation, which a lot of Republican lawmakers in particular have pushed back against, saying it would not only cause overcrowding and that towns can't necessarily afford to have this greater density, but they also campaign with the services that need to come with it.

What the governor proposed today was reforming the zoning and permitting laws to allow small homes, things like in law suites, mother-daughters, as I call them, to be built on single and two family lots, to allow for housing construction on vacant or distressed land, and then to change some of the parking requirements as well, which has been a big issue.

David: A lot of these are intended to address the objections that a group of mayors and others have had against the mandating of affordable housing.

Taking the zoning out of the local governments is an idea that helps the state move forward with the goals without being blocked by local zoning ordinances that say you can't do that here or there.

That is a strategy that has been employed for many years.

This is something that proponents of affordable housing have been calling for for a while.

Joanna: We heard something today that I am sure will get pushback from the Republicans.

The governor said he is going to stockpile Mifepristone.

Speak to that, and how he touted his other reconnaissance in -- his other accomplishments as securing reproductive freedom for the people of New Jersey.

Briana: The governor talked about the incoming administration in the White House, President-elect Donald Trump.

He will be sworn in in just a couple of weeks.

There are concerns, especially among Democratic circles, about access to reproductive rights being limited under this new administration, especially with the fall of Roe.

New Jersey under Governor Murphy is looking to following the footsteps of some other states that have already started stockpiling the abortion pill.

He is looking to get about a six month supply.

There's about $50 million, I believe, from the state budget that has been allocated toward that.

A step further is that he also wants to have out-of-pocket costs for abortion paid for.

Joanna: We know the governor talked about extending voting rights.

What did we hear today about that?

Briana: That was just a quick mention in the speech, but he did say that if the Legislature's him a bill to codify same-day voter registration, -- if the legislature sends him a bill to codify same-day better registration, he will sign that he has doubled down on that.

The state leadership has expanded voting options and voting availability.

This is a mainstay of Governor Murphy and something I think he wants to solidify in his legacy.

Joanna: The governor could not but the speech end without talking about the Netflix deal he secured in New Jersey, the FIFA World Cup coming to New Jersey in 2026.

He said it is New Jersey reemerging as the medicine chest of the nation.

Great recap and great insight for both of you.

Thanks so much.

In keeping with tradition, the minority party, in this case the Republicans, have the opportunity to respond to the governor's speech, offering their feet back, in many cases their pushback, to the agenda laid out by the governor before delivering the official response, Anthony Boko took a moment to speak with Black -- speak with Briana.

Reporter: Your thoughts and takeaways?

>> The governor did but the governor is supposed to do.

He painted a rosy picture of the State of New Jersey at this point.

But I say buyer beware.

Right now our budget has gone up $20 billion, 60% increase.

The governor talked about that.

This year we are going to face a 4.5 billion dollars structural deficit in the budget.

You don't have to go any further than the grocery store to see the price of just basic groceries.

Pull up to the gas pump.

See with the price of a gallon of gas is.

Families are living paycheck-to-paycheck and more and more families are becoming homeless.

We have a real problem with affordability in New Jersey.

While the governor talks about spending more money and initiating a lot of programs, that is all well and good, but somehow we have to pay for them.

Briana: I will push a little bit there.

The structural deficit is really more closely aligned to about $2.5 billion, but the concerns are valid that the long-term fiscal picture could lead us to that road.

But as his office would say, we've got a $6 billion surplus that the previous demonstration could not achieve, something that has enabled the state to have credit downgrades flipped.

What do you say to that?

>> I think this administration has a unique opportunity with all the federal money we have received.

We could have done a lot of things with that money.

But we squandered it.

We had in the last hours of the bucket -- budget negotiations over a billion dollars added to the budget, about what the governor wanted to spend, just on pet projects.

That is a billion dollars lost that could have made it easier for families here in New Jersey.

That is a big problem.

While the governor talks about a rosy picture, when you talk to the average person on the street , it will make it tougher to live, work, and raise your family here.

Briana: One of the things this administration has said over and over again is some of the bigger picture items, these longer-term financial responsibilities do yield results, but it is tough for families to see right away any initiatives you would get behind today.

Thinking about the zoning for affordable housing.

That could easily be the number one affordability crisis in New Jersey.

Is there legislation you could see getting behind?

>> The devil will be in the details.

We cannot just allow rezoning of every municipality without making sure they have the infrastructure, that they have to land, that there are jobs available for these folks to go to, that mass transit is available.

If you are going to start telling municipalities how to zone their properties, we had better make sure that some good, sound planning goes into it.

We did not do that with this last round of affordable housing.

Instead we forced this affordable housing down, and what it is doing is changing the character of many municipalities .

Many are forcing new units to meet their obligations, and they can't because they don't have the infrastructure to support it.

Mayors came to mean's and said OK, you want me to build this housing is to mark I am happy to build it, but who is going to pay in order to provide water?

Briana: Then how do you solve it?

What proposals do you back that would make in in what is clearly a deficit the state has been carrying for years in terms of lack of units in inventory for low income folks?

Sen. Bucco: You have to work with them menace of holidays, look at the regional need and then figure out -- work with the municipalities, look at the regional need and then figure out the best spot to put affordable housing.

Without planning, it is going to be a disaster.

That is the part we missed from the beginning.

There has never been sound planning behind these affordable housing numbers and where these units are going to be located.

You want to do this, do it right.

Work with the people that are on the ground that are going to have to absorb this housing, and figure out how much can be afforded within the particular reasons.

That is what has to be done.

Briana: Senator Bucco, good to talk to you.

Appreciate your time.

Joanna: A couple other big headlines tonight.

First, it has been just over a week since congestion pricing took effect, charging New Jersey drivers nine dollars to enter Manhattan at lower 60th Street.

MTA leaders -- the Metropolitan Transportation Authority -- offered data on what they saw in the first week, and the results seem significant, somewhere around 8% fewer cars entering the Central Business District -- that's lower Manhattan.

That reduction meant faster travel times for the cars and buses that were there.

Looking at the Holland Tunnel, travel times dropped 60% compared to the same time last year, and a 40% drop on the east van Lingen tunnel, meaning buses traveled through seven minutes faster.

The reduction in car traffic meant an increase in leadership on MTA buses throughout the city.

>> It has been a great week for New York.

>> There are thousands of New Jersey transit bus riders that depend on a free-flowing Lincoln tunnel and assume that this has made a big difference to them.

Joanna: Also tonight, with less than a week until President-elect Trump takes office, a highly anticipated report from Special Counsel Jack Smith was released overnight.

The report outlines the Department of Justice investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Trump took to treat social this morning to respond to the report, maintaining his innocence and calling Smith a lamebrain prosecutor who was unable to get his case tried before the election.

He added, "the voters have spoken."

Special Counsel Smith maintains that version of President Trump would be convicted of multiple accounts had the cases moved forward.

Today, hearings began for President Trump's cabinet nominees, perhaps the most controversial Pete Hegseth, who faced scrutiny over controversial comments he has made about women in the military, saying they should not serve in combat roles.

Hegseth has also faced sexual assault allegations, which he has denied peering hearings will continue all week.

Tonight, Kristi Noem, up for department of homeland security secretary.

That's it for tonight.

Remember, you can download the NJ Spotlight News podcast so you can listen to us at any time.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

For the entire team, things for being with us.

Have a great night.

We will see you back here tomorrow.

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♪