It came near the end on his one-hour address outlining a new $38.6 billion budget on Tuesday in Trenton, but New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy threw out a little bombshell that drew loud applause among spectators in the Assembly gallery.

He announced he would only sign off on the closely watched marijuana bill if the measure was amended to expunge the records of those who have been put through the criminal system for prior marijuana offenses.

“This is the right step for eliminating decades-old and persistent racial and social inequities,” Murphy said in his speech. “But it is also our chance to create an entirely new state-based industry with the potential to create thousands of good-paying jobs, expand opportunities for minority business owners, and jump-start billions of dollars in new economic activity.”