In another return to normalcy following the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy is set to deliver the State of the State Address Jan. 10 from the Statehouse in Trenton — the first time the annual speech has been in-person since 2020.

The event, which is being livestreamed on YouTube by Murphy’s office, gets underway at 2 p.m.

Murphy’s fifth State of State Address comes as New Jersey continues to move beyond the pandemic that gripped the state and the nation over the past few years. The governor is expected to tout his administration’s efforts to improve affordability in the Garden State, as well as initiatives and programs that are either operational or on the docket for 2023 and beyond.

“We are building a New Jersey that is leading the way for our nation,” said Murphy in a statement. “We have come so far in making New Jersey the State of Opportunity we know it can be, but we still have more to do.”

One program expected to be prominently mentioned is the ANCHOR Property Tax Program, which has an application deadline of Jan. 31.

The $2 billion program is the centerpiece of Murphy’s record $50.6 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which included more than $10 billion in surplus and debt defeasance funds.

Republicans have blasted the record levels of spending and described ANCHOR as a gimmick, instead proposing their own plan for direct taxpayer relief. They have also consistently criticized Murphy on a number of issues, such as debt, the state’s business climate, his handling of the pandemic, the allocation of federal COVID funds, his green energy plan, the rapid spike of state health care premiums, and more.

Following Murphy’s speech, Republican legislative leaders will hold a press conference to respond.

NJBIZ will have complete coverage, pictures and updates throughout the day from Trenton.

Stay with us for the latest developments.