New Laws in NJ: Governor Murphy Signs New Laws on Social Work, Mortuaries, and Commissions

Recent legislative actions include reforms to step therapy protocols, financial services, and farm housing protections, alongside multiple conditional vetoes.

NEW JERSEY — Governor Phil Murphy has signed a broad array of legislation into law over the past week, enacting new measures addressing healthcare protocols, licensure compacts, agricultural practices, and financial services, while also issuing several conditional vetoes on pending bills.

On May 8, 2025, the governor signed six bills, including:

• ACS for A-1825/SCS for S-3533: This law establishes uniform guidelines for step therapy protocols in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), and Medicaid. Step therapy, often referred to as "fail first" therapy, requires patients to try lower-cost medications before coverage is granted for more expensive alternatives. The legislation aims to protect patients from medically inappropriate or delayed care due to overly rigid step therapy rules.

• A-2813/S-2688: Enters New Jersey into the Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing licensed social workers to practice across state lines, improving workforce mobility and access to care.

• ACS for A-3940/SCS for S-1635: Modifies state regulations concerning mortuary science, enhancing oversight and establishing clear standards for funeral service and embalming practices.

• A-4751/S-3606: Permits eligible public safety personnel to purchase service credit in the State Police Retirement System (SPRS) for periods of enrollment at U.S. military academies, the New Jersey State Police Academy, and time spent as a Class II special law enforcement officer.

• ACS for AJR-211/SCS for SJR-149: Designates May 18 annually as “Six Triple Eight Day” in honor of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas during World War II.

Governor Murphy also issued conditional vetoes on the same day for bills concerning the regulation of cooperative sober living residences (A-4535/S-2952) and the creation of a criminal offense for inciting a public brawl (A-4652/S-3507), suggesting revisions before potential enactment.

On May 9, Murphy signed additional legislation, including:

• S-3199/A-4343: Establishes the New Jersey–Haiti Commission to foster cultural, educational, and economic exchanges between the state and the Haitian community.

• S-3353/A-4501: Directs the State Agriculture Development Committee to adopt standards for farm employee housing on commercial farms and extends “Right to Farm” protections to such housing arrangements.

• S-3525/A-4893: Requires financial institutions to allow biweekly and semi-monthly mortgage payments, as well as direct payments toward mortgage principal, giving homeowners greater flexibility in managing loan obligations.

• SJR-102/AJR-167 and SJR-121/AJR-181: Designate May 17 and May 15 as Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day, respectively, bringing attention to rare medical conditions affecting infants and children.

Finally, on May 10, the governor issued three additional conditional vetoes, requesting changes to bills concerning:

• Mental health service access for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing (S-1067/A-1673),

• Contract transparency with licensed public adjusters (S-1320/A-4390), and

• Allowing permanent structures on preserved farmland to be used for special occasion events (S-3418/A-4556).

Copies of the governor’s conditional veto statements are available through the State of New Jersey’s official legislative portal.