Governor Murphy, DEP Commissioner LaTourette Announce Actions to Help Prevent Wildfire Spread Across New Jersey

Governor Murphy and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced a series of actions that emphasize the importance of wildfire safety, mitigation, awareness, response, and training – known as NJ Wildfire SMART – and reduce wildfire spread as New Jersey heads into the spring wildfire season amid continued dry conditions statewide. 

The NJ Wildfire SMART actions were announced during a roundtable led by Governor Murphy, Environmental Protection Commissioner LaTourette, and the DEP Forest Fire Service with local officials in the fire-prone Pinelands region. Prolonged dry conditions statewide stretch back to late last summer, increasing the risk for wildfire in the spring, when weather conditions tend to be dry and windy. 

“New Jersey experienced significant dryness this past fall, resulting in an extended wildfire season throughout the state in 2024 and providing a sobering reminder that we must be prepared for the spring wildfire season,” said Governor Murphy. “It is more important than ever that we share information and continue to work collaboratively to protect lives, properties, and communities.” 

“Preparedness is essential, especially as climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of wildfires in New Jersey,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “We need to be even more vigilant going into the spring wildfire season and follow the actions of NJ Wildfire SMART, which will help mitigate wildfire risk statewide.”

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Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Establishing Advisory Council on HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis

Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 381 establishing an Advisory Council on HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis (Advisory Council) to help bolster the State’s efforts to uplift public health. The Advisory Council will be responsible for coordinating initiatives designed to combat the HIV epidemic, the rising cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and viral hepatitis, and the risks of contracting such diseases through injection drug use.

The Advisory Council on HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis, which will be led by the New Jersey Department of Health, repurposes the over 20-year-old Governor’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and Related Blood Borne Pathogens with a broader mission. The Advisory Council will now bring together government officials and members of the public with an updated mandate to tackle these pressing communicable disease threats to public health with specific attention to the disproportionate impact of HIV, STIs, and viral hepatitis on New Jersey’s Black, Hispanic, Latino, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

This action is particularly timely as, in recent weeks, the federal government has removed critical public health information and services from federally maintained websites, threatening to impede the progress that has been made in combating these diseases as well as impacting the ability to treat those living with HIV/AIDS, STIs, and viral hepatitis.

"For decades, the State has been hard at work to combat the HIV epidemic and, while we have made progress, more work remains to prevent transmission and to support the long, healthy lives of those living with HIV/AIDS. My action today is prompted by the devastating, disproportionate impact of this disease in New Jersey’s LGBTQIA+ communities and communities of color. Paired with the increasing threat of STIs and viral hepatitis, now more than ever it is critical to continue pursuing initiatives that will keep our state and residents healthy. We cannot waver when it comes to public health," said Governor Murphy. "I commend my predecessors for taking on this challenge and I am proud to underscore New Jersey’s commitment to combat the spread of these often co-occurring diseases by establishing the Department of Health’s Advisory Council on HIV, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis."

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New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grants $2 Million to New Jersey Artists

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts held its first public meeting of 2025, where $2 million was awarded to 216 New Jersey artists through the Council’s Individual Artist Fellowship program - the highest number of artists awarded in one year in the program's history.

The Individual Artist Fellowships – carried out in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts - are competitive awards to New Jersey artists in 13 rotating disciplines granted solely on independent peer panel assessment of work samples. The anonymous process is focused on artistic quality, and awards may be used to help artists produce new work and advance their careers. New Jersey artists applied for awards this year in the categories of Choreography, Crafts, Music Composition, Photography, Playwriting/Screenwriting, Poetry, and Sculpture.

“Here in New Jersey, we are so fortunate to live in a state full of artists - a state where artists want to live and work,” said Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the Council in her capacity as Secretary of State. “And I'm so proud of the work we're doing to support New Jersey artists. All New Jerseyans benefit from their inspiring creativity, imaginative perspectives, and their ability to bring our communities together and make them stronger."

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Human Services Seeks Proposals to Expand PACE to Serve Older Adults in All 21 Counties

The Department of Human Services issued two requests for proposals to establish a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Hunterdon County and in Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties, the remaining counties currently without a PACE program.

PACE is an innovative program that provides individuals 55 years of age or older with comprehensive medical and social services. The care is coordinated and provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals in a community-based center and in their homes.

“PACE connects older residents with specific health needs to vital health and social services that can help delay or avoid admission to long-term care facilities. This is the last step to achieving our goal of expanding PACE as an option to older adults in every county of New Jersey,” said Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman.

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