Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco and Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon have called for a special legislative session to address rising costs in New Jersey’s State Health Benefits Program. The lawmakers are urging immediate passage of SCR-61, which would establish a bipartisan committee to investigate recent proposals and the causes behind an anticipated 37% premium increase.
State representatives from the State Health Benefits Program Plan Design Committee submitted cost analysis proposals on August 1, 2025. Bucco and O’Scanlon argue that quick action is needed to review these savings plans from both unions and state officials before new premiums are set.
Bucco stated, “It’s crucial for the Legislature to examine the proposed premium hikes to identify what’s really driving these costs. While inflation may play a role, there’s no doubt that mismanagement and weak oversight of the state health benefits plan by the Murphy administration and Trenton Democrats are major contributors. This isn’t about placing blame, it’s about getting ahead of a crisis. If we wait until fall, we risk locking in devastating costs for taxpayers and public employees alike.”
O’Scanlon highlighted the broad impact of higher premiums: “The proposed premium hikes will affect hundreds of thousands of state and local government employees, including teachers and retirees, who will face significantly higher health care costs if this plan moves forward. These increased premiums will also place a heavy burden on school districts and local governments, which cover a substantial share of employee insurance costs. If we don’t act now, families across New Jersey will feel the impact in the form of even higher property taxes. We can’t afford to wait until the damage is done, Trenton must reconvene immediately.”
SCR-61 was first introduced in 2022 as an effort to create a joint committee from both chambers of the legislature to look into reasons for steep increases in benefit premiums. The committee would also assess how contracts are managed and whether any failures within state agencies have affected efforts to control costs or administer benefits properly.
The senators criticized recent Democratic initiatives such as Assembly bill A-5903 and a newly formed Senate work group for lacking bipartisan participation.
O’Scanlon commented, “Assembly Democrats are pushing a bill that the Murphy administration has already labeled a non-starter. Senate Democrats formed a work group that excludes Republican voices. None of it’s serious. It’s all designed to save face, not fix the system. Time is running out, there needs to be a sense of urgency. The Legislature needs to return to Trenton now before it’s too late.”
They argue that lawmakers must convene before autumn budget deadlines make reversing course more difficult.
Republicans have previously offered alternative approaches over several years aimed at stabilizing or reforming public employee health benefit programs in New Jersey but warn that failure to act puts taxpayers and public workers at financial risk.
