On Monday, June 22nd, the New Jersey State Policy Lab’s summer intern cohort joined with students from the Eagleton Institute of Politics, the Rutgers Democracy Lab, and the Rutgers Scarlet Service Internship program as part of an immersive, one-day civics program at the New Jersey State House in Trenton.
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New Jersey State Policy Lab
NJSPL: Are Data Centers Raising Your Electric Bill? Mostly Not. Yet.
For now, the evidence suggests that data centers haven’t yet produced large, detectable increases in local electricity bills, but “not yet” is not the same as “nothing to worry about.” New Jersey has the time and opportunity to design rules that protect ratepayers before the next wave of electricity demand arrives at full scale.
What Do People Think of E-bikes? A Closer Look by Younes and Xie
Sixty-four percent (64%) of respondents from a recent survey on e-bike use and perception agreed that the government should do more to support e-bike use. Researchers conducted this survey (N=998) in Fall 2025 to adult, non-users of e-bikes in the U.S. Over 70% of the respondents were from NJ, with a smaller percentage from surrounding states, and 443 were non-owners.
NJSPL Report: Reducing Opioid Overdose Risk in New Jersey
Researchers found that incidents of NJ Medicaid beneficiaries who received buprenorphine immediately and/or shortly after an opioid-related emergency department visit increased from 4.0% in 2018 to 14.4% in 2022. The team also conducted a series of interviews with medical professionals and discussed the challenges to buprenorphine provision, including patient resistance, insurance and pharmacy obstacles, and limited training and stigmatization.
NJSPL: Professors Cantor and DeLia Dissect Gov. Sherrill’s Healthcare Proposals
Governor Sherrill’s first budget proposal provides an early look into the administration’s healthcare affordability agenda. Professors Joel Cantor and Derek DeLia examine the agenda and make recommendations.
NJSPL Blog: Overview of Literature for AI and Small Businesses
Researchers at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, with funding from the New Jersey State Policy Lab, are currently engaged in a project to examine how New Jersey’s public artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives can better align with the evolving needs of small businesses in the state.
New Jersey State Policy Lab Celebrates 5th Anniversary with Annual Report
We are prepared to continue this important work into the future, building connections between research and policy, investing in the next generation of leaders, and centering the needs of communities across New Jersey.
NJSPL: How Demonstration Projects Strengthen Rapid Response Programs
Demonstration projects are short-term, low-cost installations that test street design changes. They have become a powerful tool for municipalities looking to improve safety, build public support, and accelerate long-term improvements.
Noland and Fulton: Saving Oil in a Hurry, Again!
In 2005, researchers Bob Noland and Lewis Fulton worked with the International Energy Agency to release analysis and policy recommendations to address concerns over “peak oil” and rising oil prices. More than twenty years later, this work continues to be more relevant than ever as the world is experiencing the most severe oil supply disruption in modern history, triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
NJSPL: New Jersey’s New E-Bike Laws – What Comes Next?
On January 19, 2026, former Governor Phil Murphy signed S4834/A6235 into law, establishing a new regulatory framework for electric bicycles in the Garden State. This blog by Leigh Ann Von Hagen and Gabrielle Cain explains the next steps.