[45] On January 29, 2018, Murphy signed an executive order reinstating New Jersey back into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

[54] In February 2022 he signed an executive order setting a goal of having 100% clean electricity by 2035, moving the target 15 year earlier.

[59] The Trump administration has proposed opening almost all federal waters to offshore drilling, including off the coast of the Jersey Shore, and dividing them into sections and auctioning leases to oil companies.

In February 2018, NJ joined nine other states in suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for suspending the Clean Water Rule[62] In October 2019, Murphy officially opposed construction of a new power plant in New Jersey Meadowlands in North Bergen.

[68] Following campaign promises to improve both infrastructure and the safety record of New Jersey Transit, the state-run public transportation agency, Murphy [69] requested, in January 2018, resignation letters from approximately 20 senior staff members,[70] and signed an executive order calling for a complete audit.

[74] Murphy supports the Gateway Project, which would expand and renovate the Northeast Corridor (NEC) rail line between Newark and New York Penn Station.

[75] Murphy supports the development of solutions of problems created by the aging, overcrowded Port Authority Bus Terminal.

In February 2022 he announced that New Jersey would begin rulemaking to follow California's standard of all new car sales being electric vehicles by 2035.

[77] In February 2018, Murphy signed his first piece of legislation, the restoration of $7.5 million annual funding for Planned Parenthood, which had been cut early in the Christie administration.

[96] In February 2019, Murphy vetoed a law that had overwhelmingly passed in the State Legislature to provide emergency housing assistance.

And if we transpose those steps or if we jump the gun irresponsibly, we throw — based on any amount of evidence — gasoline on the fire and it gets a lot worse.

[111] On July 8, Murphy signed an executive order mandating the use of face masks outdoors (with exceptions[112]) where social distancing was not possible.

[114] In early August Murphy paused or rescinded certain aspects of the phased 'reopening' of New Jersey after cases in the state increased after a period of decline.

[120] Despite a Democratic super majority in the New Jersey Assembly and State Senate, there has been opposition within his own party as well as some Republicans, thus casting doubt on the passage of such legislation.

[139] In May 2018, Murphy signed into law legislation requiring that all employees be entitled to pay sick leave based on the previous year's number of worked hours.

[149] In April 2018, Murphy signed a bill to let unauthorized immigrants who are residents of New Jersey apply for college financial aid.

[154] In March 2018, Murphy signed legislation which automatically registers all those who apply for a driver's license or state ID to vote.

[155] In July 2018 Murphy signed into law legislation to allow for third gender birth certificates, including the designation "X", which became effective January 2019.

[170][171] In 2019, Murphy again promoted a "millionaires' tax" as part of the state budget,[172] suggesting that legislation be put before the New Jersey Legislature.

[174] In January 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order to initiate an audit of the tax incentives made to businesses by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), saying that oversight of the programs was insufficient and had not been properly regulated.

[176][177][178] The task force created to investigate has been challenged in a court case by some of the recipients of the incentives, including board member George Norcross.

[192][193] In August 2020, Murphy proposed creating a $1,000 "baby bond" for New Jersey's children, which would be payable with interest at the age of eighteen.

Following a ruling from the United States Supreme Court that eliminated restrictions,[197] New Jersey created legislation to permit it,[198] which Murphy signed into law on June 11, 2018.

Democratic state Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald suggested that Tammy Murphy should be given an official title to reduce confusion.

Jackson had served prison time for taking bribes as a councilman in Passaic County and thus was not allowed to hold public positions.

[203] On October 15, 2018, an independent investigation into Murphy's hiring of former Schools Development Authority Chief of Staff Al Alvarez was commissioned.

[204][205] Murphy also faces questions about Al Alvarez, who was accused of sexual assault[206] by Katie Brennan, now chief of staff at the state's housing agency.

[206] Brennan alleged that Alvarez sexually assaulted her in April 2017, after a gathering of Murphy campaign staffers at a bar in Jersey City.

[211] New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Peter Verniero will lead an independent investigation into a "systemic review of the hiring and vetting practices of the governor-elect’s transition office.

"[203] Additionally, New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney will form a six-member, bipartisan committee to investigate the handling of sexual assault allegations against Alvarez, among other issues.