Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey lawmakers finally had a date in mind for passing what could be the biggest legislation in years: marijuana legalization. But will it happen?

Lawmakers are starting to hedge their bets a little now that investigations into an alleged sex assault committed by a former Murphy staffer have been launched. Lawmakers privately told nj.com they believe it's possible the work required to launch the investigations could push back the marijuana bill, which they planned to vote on by Oct. 29.

Publicly, Murphy himself probably came the closest to addressing a possible delay caused by the investigations, telling reporters during his trip to Germany that New Jersey needs to become "a better place for survivors of awful sexual assault." Murphy said he hopes lawmakers can multitask and address important legislative priorities while also conducting an investigtion, but "I can't think of a higher calling right now, or a higher priority" than addressing issues of sexual assault.

"It can't be at the expense of this," he said, according to an account from ROI-NJ. It's too important." Senate President Steve Sweeney announced this week the creation of a special Senate committee to investigate the handling of the sexual assault allegations against a former high-level state official, while also examining government hiring practices and background checks.

The six-member, bipartisan Senate Select Committee on Investigation will examine the hiring practices and background checks by the government to determine what reforms are needed to prevent abusers from escaping accountability. The committee will also conduct a review of systemic problems so that survivors can trust in the ability to achieve justice.

Earlier this week, Murphy said he, too, was launching an investigation into a woman's claims that she was raped by a top staffer – yet the man still found a way to get a job in the Murphy administration.

"I wish we never made the hire in transition," Murphy said during a press conference on Monday. "I'm sick to my stomach." Murphy said former Supreme Court Justice Peter Venerio will run the investigation now that lawmakers have called for hearings since the woman has gone public with the details of her rape allegations. The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is also now investigating the case, state officials said.