As Gov. Mikie Sherrill prepares to introduce her first spending plan next week, the Legislature has yet to pass a bill that would add a 40-cent fee to each New Jersey telephone bill to fund the state’s 988 Suicide & Crisis hotline.
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/03/as-s...
The legislation moving this year's gubernatorial budget message to March 10 has now been approved by both full houses of the NJ Legislature.
@njspotlightnews.org
“My life has been profoundly impacted by the opioid crisis,” said Rocky Schwartz of Hunterdon County. “I can’t even count how many funerals I have attended.”
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/02/rest...
The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee hearing here in Trenton is set to begin shortly. On the agenda today are two bills addressing the 988 system of care and millions of dollars in opioid funding. Story to come soon.
@njspotlightnews.org
Wow what a night in NJ CD 11.
Malinowski not ready to concede, but the progressive Mejia has the lead. It could take a while for a final decision
The funding worries come as prolonged record-breaking cold grips parts of the United States . . . In Toms River, an elderly homeless woman last month was found dead in her snow-covered car.
Reporting by @bobby-brier.bsky.social @njspotlightnews.org
Residents of nearly 900 New Jersey households are at risk of homelessness as President Donald Trump’s proposed policy changes sow uncertainty about millions of dollars in annual federal rental assistance.
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/02/trum...
As mounting economic pressures push more people into homelessness, volunteers and outreach workers traversed NJ this week for the state’s annual count of the homeless.
NJ homelessness is on a five-year upswing, according to Monarch Housing Associates, and advocates expect another increase in 2026.
“Ultimately, this approach supports better care coordination, improves the patient experience, and expands access to comprehensive services across the state.” — Kate Shamszad @qualityinstitutenj.bsky.social
One former state health official said that while this is a step in the right direction for NJ, challenges could still remain in implementing this policy change.
As a result, patients were often forced to visit multiple places to receive complete care. This will now change and patients will be able to receive primary health care, mental health care and addiction treatment services in the same location.
Under the previous system, facilities offering primary care, mental health and addiction treatment services in a single location were required to use three separate licenses, each with different regulatory requirements.
NJ has revised its license requirements for outpatient treatment, writing new rules to allow for integrated outpatient care, a move hailed as landmark reform after NJ officials & health advocates had been trying to do so for years.
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/nj-r...
Honored to have worked the past few years with @bflanagannj.bsky.social — today was her last day before a well deserved retirement. What a career, we’ll miss you! youtu.be/HyY2dJAGTo8?...
“We are counting on the Sherrill admin. & the Leg. to do the right thing & reintroduce the $45 million, move it swiftly & ensure opioid settlement funds are used as intended. Lives depend on getting this right.” — Elizabeth Burke Beaty
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/sher...
Gov. Murphy’s final State of the State address is set to begin at 3 pm EST.
Stay with @njspotlightnews.org as we continue to cover the speech live and with additional coverage throughout the week.
As lame duck comes to an end, NJ's majority Democratic lawmakers approve spending millions on World Cup marketing and pet projects, as well as new tax breaks for the operators of the Prudential Center in Newark.
@njspotlightnews.org
“It shouldn’t be a scary thing (for children to get vaccines) and you shouldn’t feel bad for doing everything you can to protect your child.” — Jill Moghadam, mother and educator, of Marlton
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/nj-h...
The bill restricts public school students from using smartphones and other devices with internet access throughout the school day.
Signing the bill into law is among the top priorities for Murphy now in his final days in office.
Cellphone policies are determined by individual school districts.
Students expected to benefit from cell phone ban
@govmurphy.bsky.social plans to sign the legislation into law this morning at Ramsey High School in Bergen County.
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/stud...
Is NJ’s school ethics law being weaponized to silence critics? Few in the public are aware of how broadly written this code is, and why school board members have good reason to fear its use. www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/01/is-n...
“We are really eager to see this bill signed into law, just to know that our state is committed to advancing on this and to not going backward because where we are is unbearable…”- Amber Reed @aapinewjersey.org
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/nj-p...
Prepping our @NJSpotlightNews voter guide for NJ CD11 special primary. Got a question you think we should ask the candidates?
The last-minute push for more money during the current lame duck session of the Legislature is among the latest examples of the lengthy efforts some nonprofit leaders feel they must take to keep their social support programs open.
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/firs...
More NJ public school students could soon be restricted from using smartphones & other devices w/ internet access throughout the school day, an effort by legislators & policy makers to limit classroom distraction & improve mental health
@njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/cell...
“We did what we said we would do, and in politics, that is not often the case. We campaigned on an agenda that we actually, when we got into office, we actually executed and stayed true to,” Gov. Murphy said during a final sit-down interview with @njspotlightnews.org
UPDATE: Sen. Pres. Scutari today announced he's pulling the controversial bill from consideration during this month’s lame-duck legislative session.
“I’ve heard the concerns, and I’m going to listen to them,” he said, adding that he would revisit the proposal next year. More at @njspotlightnews.org
Should judges consider a defendant’s history as a victim of domestic violence?
Latest for @njspotlightnews.org
www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/12/shou...
Previous versions of the bill sought to decriminalize the production, dispensing and use of the drug for people who are over 21 years old and to legalize the drug for therapeutic purposes.
