During an interview with NBC News last month, Trump said he doesn’t plan to restrict medication abortion but he also seemed to leave the door open, saying “things change.” Abortion rights groups are particularly concerned that Trump’s choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi, may revive the Comstock Act, an anti-vice law passed by Congress in 1873 that, among other things, bans the mailing of medication or instruments used in abortion.

Tuesday’s speech was Murphy’s second-to-last, and he emphasized his reluctance to become a lame-duck governor in the final stretch of his second term. Among the other proposals he unveiled, Murphy said he would direct schools to ban cellphones in grades K-12.

“Our children are inundated with screens,” he said. “And they are making it incredibly difficult for our kids, not only to learn, but to retain the substance of what they learn.”

Murphy is entering the final 12 months of his second term, coinciding with the dawn of a second Trump administration, just as the beginning of his governorship overlapped with Trump’s first term.

Murphy has defined himself as progressive and ran for reelection that way. But his 2021 victory was far narrower than many expected and his party’s losses in the Legislature saw the Democrats refocus on affordability issues like property tax relief.

“During this final chapter of our journey, our absolute top priority — as it has been since Day One — is delivering economic security and opportunity to every New Jerseyan,” Murphy said.

Now Murphy’s legacy — which includes a lengthy list of legislation thanks to the Democrat-led Legislature like tightening gun laws, legalizing recreational marijuana, taxing the wealthy and boosting education funding — is set against the backdrop of a pitched Democratic primary.

Term-limited from seeking another four years in office, Murphy will be turning the reins of the party over to the eventual winner of a six-person field running for governor in this year’s contest. New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states regularly scheduled with gubernatorial races this year.

Murphy’s vision for the state also coincides with a Democratic Party angling for a way forward and a vote-getting national message after last year’s loss to Trump and the GOP victories, narrow as they are, in Congress.

The speech, analogous to the presidential state of the union address but at the state level, amounts to a blueprint for how the governor wants the year to unfold.

Legislation he sought last year to bar debt collectors from divulging patients’ medical debts to consumer credit reporting agencies, for instance, was enacted. He also succeeded in getting legislation overhauling affordable housing requirements are managed in the state.

But the speech can also underscore how limited the governor’s power can be. Last year, he called for legislation to permit 16-year-olds to vote in school board elections. The measure hasn’t advanced in the Legislature, though he reiterated his call for the bill on Tuesday. He also called for an “artificial intelligence moonshot.” So far, a task force the governor established has issued a report calling for the state to embrace generative AI.

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously preserved access in June to mifepristone, which is used in nearly two-thirds of abortions. The case before the court threatened to cut back access to the drug, including in states where abortion is legal. Abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy in 14 states, and after about six weeks of pregnancy in three others, often before women realize they’re pregnant.

Sen. Pat Diegnan, chair of the state’s Senate Transportation Committee, was a prime sponsor of the measure.

“Out of incomprehensible tragedies, the grieving family members who have been supportive of this legislation continue to keep alive the indomitable spirit of their loved ones, turning heartbreaking loss into life-changing advocacy,” Diegnan said. “They embody why making our roads safe for all road users must be a priority for our state. The commission will create a clear and comprehensive plan to save lives and protect our communities.”

“New Jersey’s rise in traffic fatalities is a trend that we absolutely must reverse,” said Asm. Rob Karabinchak, another prime sponsor of the measure. “I can’t imagine the pain of losing a loved one in a senseless traffic accident. No family should endure the devastation caused by reckless drivers or dangerous roadways. These deaths are preventable, and we must take action to improve safety.”

Tracy Noble, a spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said the number of people killed in vehicle accidents in New Jersey is unacceptable.

“We need to stop deciding to drive distracted. We need to stop deciding to get behind the wheel if we are impaired by alcohol or drugs, whether it be legal [or]recreational, and we need to eliminate driving well above the speed limit,” she said.

“We’ve seen survey after survey that says it’s not me, it’s the other guy,” Noble added. “Well, you need to take stock of what you’re doing, as well.”

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia strongly supported the passage of the bill.

“The signing of this bill reminds us of our beloved colleague and fellow cyclist, Andrea Gonzalez, who was tragically killed by a driver in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in October 2023,” Christopher Gale, the coalition’s executive director, said. “Her loss and the many other lives lost due to crashes with vehicles moves us to keep this urgent issue at the forefront and we are committed to working alongside New Jersey lawmakers to achieve zero deaths on our transportation network.”