New Jersey State League of Municipalities Statement on Governor Murphy’s State of the State Address

Trenton, NJ (January 10, 2023) Governor Phil Murphy’s 2023 State of the State Address covered a wide variety of topics, including the League’s long-sought reforms to the Liquor License application process and the inability to offer new licenses. The New Jersey State League of Municipalities leadership issued the following statement on Governor Murphy’s proposal to have New Jersey join the vast majority of states where obtaining a liquor license is a clear, open, and straightforward process:

“Society has drastically changed since Franklin Roosevelt was president and New Jersey’s ability to issue liquor licenses needs to join the long list of those positive changes,” stated League President and Millstone Borough Mayor Raymond S. Heck. “A relic of post-prohibition reforms in the 1930s, New Jersey’s process to obtain a liquor license has been badly broken for many decades and we applaud Governor Murphy’s proposal. The League, and our Liquor License Reform Task Force, is eager to vigorously participate in this process, including the development of new consumption licenses for the growing craft beer, wine, and spirits industry that creates jobs and economic activity in our communities while providing broader access to liquor licenses.”

“This has been a long-sought reform, and we have been anticipating details since Governor Murphy discussed the need for reform at the Delegates’ Luncheon at the League Conference this past November” said League Executive Director Michael F. Cerra. “The initial proposal, with the phasing out of the population cap and the ability for municipalities to generate needed revenue, are steps in the right direction.”

The League applauds the Governor’s remarks to combat the opioid epidemic and municipalities across the state, along with the League’s Opioid Task Force, looks forward to partnering with the state to help eliminate the epidemic.

Lastly, as most of New Jersey’s municipalities are in the middle of crafting their 2023 budget, those that participate in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) still have no agreement on additional state revenue to reduce the crushing 22% increase facing municipalities that participate in the SHBP. While conversations are ongoing, this issue needs to be resolved as soon as possible to minimize budgetary and revenue issues.

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