Busy day at the State House sees protests, bill changes and Supreme Court nominations

A parent’s rights group rallied outside the building Monday morning to advocate for parental control over sexual education.

Matt Trapani

May 15, 2023, 10:44 PM

Updated 438 days ago

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Lawmakers, protesters and a potential future state Supreme Court justice were all doing business at the newly renovated New Jersey State House on Monday.
A parent’s rights group rallied outside the building Monday morning to advocate for parental control over sexual education.
“Parents should be able to teach their kids what they need to teach their kid… sex education should be taught at home, and stuff that should be taught at school should be English and math and basic skills,” said Philip Wilson, a Republican candidate for the state Senate’s 28th District.
They protested against a bill to protect those who allow children to undergo gender-affirming health care.
“There is evil in the world. This is it. This is it. We have to stop it,” one member of the protest said.
A bill that would have banned baby wipes in New Jersey has been modified to simply include a warning.
“Everybody wins. We get what we really want in the industry, which is proper labeling, and quite frankly we get a definition as to what this stuff means,” said state Sen. Joe Cryan.
The modification allows Cryan, who runs the Middlesex County Utilities Authority, to get what he really wanted - more public awareness of wipes that clog sewer systems.
“For the wastewater industry, it's a significant issue and one I hope we're on the way to resolving,” Cryan said.
Gov. Phil Murphy also announced a new nomination for the state Supreme Court.
“Today I am honored and thrilled to nominate Michael Noriega to serve as associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court,” Murphy said.
Noriega is an attorney who would become the first public defender in New Jersey history on the state's highest court.
"Here I stand, with the possibility of achieving the highest honor of a legal career. I have absolutely loved being a lawyer,” Noriega said.
The state Senate still has to vote on Noriega before he gets on the Court. Those hearings are expected soon.


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