The governor used much of his budget address – his first in-person speech at the statehouse in two years – to list economic successes he attributed to his administration’s policies. The address also put property tax relief at the center of the governor’s agenda and seemed designed to reassure residents and businesses that Murphy had taken to heart concerns about affordability.

The funds will go toward state and local programs focused on treatment, prevention and other strategies to combat the epidemic.

The governor continues to get his highest marks on his handling of the pandemic. However, his overall favorability has taken a hit.

The proposal from the governor's office would provide assistance for 1.5 million of the former and 600,000 of the latter, and comes as several Senate Republican lawmakers say they plan to introduce a bill to provide automatic, refundable tax credits to anyone that earned less than $500,000 last year.

“There’s no mistake our first committee that I authorized was on the singular topic of affordability and property tax relief,” newly installed Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-22nd District, said in a recent News12 New Jersey interview.

The two-day ReNew Jersey Business Summit is meant to stand in for the organization's annual Walk to Washington, which was canceled this winter for the second year in a row amid COVID-19 uncertainties.

The additions will work under the deputy chief of staff on economic development, and alongside the corporate affairs coordinator, to gauge the state's COVID-19 recovery.

The political action committees could boost Gov. Phil Murphy’s nationwide presence as opinions as to whether he's eyeing the nation's top office persist.

The extension will allow the K-12 school mask mandate to stay in place until March 7, with the goal of lifting the orders at that time.