221st New Jersey Legislature explained

221st New Jersey Legislature
Body:	New Jersey Legislature
Country:	United States
State:	New Jersey
Term Start:	January 9, 2024
Term End:	January 13, 2026
Before:	220th Legislature
After:	222nd Legislature
Chamber1:	New Jersey General Assembly
Membership1:	80
Control1:	Democratic Party
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:	Speaker
Chamber1 Leader1:	Craig Coughlin^[1]
Chamber1 Leader2 Type:	Majority Leader
Chamber1 Leader2:	Louis Greenwald
Chamber1 Leader3 Type:	Minority Leader
Chamber1 Leader3:	John DiMaio^[2]
Chamber2:	New Jersey Senate
Membership2:	40
Control2:	Democratic Party
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:	President
Chamber2 Leader1:	Nicholas Scutari^[3]
Chamber2 Leader2 Type:	Majority Leader
Chamber2 Leader2:	Teresa Ruiz
Chamber2 Leader3 Type:	Minority Leader
Chamber2 Leader3:	Anthony M. Bucco^[4]

The 221st New Jersey Legislature began on January 9, 2024, following the 2023 elections for Assembly and Senate. It will end January 13, 2026.

This will be the first session of the state legislature where legislators will represent districts in the new legislative map that will be used until the 2031 election cycle.^[5]

The members of the Assembly will serve two-year terms through the end of the legislative session in January 2026 while members of the Senate elected in 2023 will serve four-year terms that will expire in January 2028 at the conclusion of the 222nd legislative session.

Of the 120 members of the legislature in the 220th legislative session, a third of them (40 members) will have changed from that legislative term to this one, the highest turnover rate in several years. This does include six legislators who are moving up from the Assembly to the Senate. The rest of those 40 officeholders either did not run for re-election (some of which were to run for other elected offices not in the state legislature and others were due to the loss of party support as part of redistricting) or lost re-election in the primary election in June 2023 or the general election in November 2023.^[6]

Assembly

See also: 2023 New Jersey General Assembly election.

Assembly composition

Starting January 9, 2024	Affiliation		Members
		Democratic Party	52
		Republican Party	28
	Total	80

Assembly leadership and committee chairs

Democratic caucus

As announced by Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin:^[7]

• Majority Leader: Asm. Louis D. Greenwald (D-Camden, Burlington)
• Speaker Pro Tempore: Asm. Benjie E. Wimberly (D-Bergen, Passaic)
• Majority Conference Leader: Asw. Annette Quijano (D-Union)
• Majority Whip: Asw. Carol Murphy (D-Burlington)
• Assembly Appropriations Chair: Asw. Lisa Swain (D-Bergen, Passaic)
• Policy Chair: Gary S. Schaer (D-Bergen, Passaic)
• Assembly Budget Chair: Asw. Eliana Pintor Marin (D-Essex)
• Constituent Outreach Chair: Asw. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer, Hudson)
• Deputy Speakers: Asw. Linda S. Carter (Middlesex, Somerset, Union), Asm. Herb Conaway (D-Burlington), Asm. Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex), Shanique Speight (D-Essex), Asw. Pamela R. Lampitt (D-Camden, Burlington), Asw. Yvonne Lopez (D-Middlesex)
• Deputy Majority Leaders: Asm. Roy Freiman (D-Somerset, Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon), Asm. Bill Moen, Jr. (D-Camden, Gloucester), Asm. Chris Tully (Bergen, Passaic), Asw. Shama Haider (D-Bergen)
• Parliamentarian: Asw. Ellen Park (Bergen)
• Deputy Parliamentarian: Asm. Sterley Stanley (D-Middlesex)
• Deputy Whips: Asm. Clinton Calabrese (D-Bergen, Passaic), Joseph Danielsen (D-Middlesex, Somerset)

Republican caucus

• Minority Leader: Asm. John DiMaio
• Deputy Minority Leader: Antwan L. McClellan (District 1)
• Minority Conference Leader: Christopher P. DePhillips (District 40)
• Minority Whip: Brian Bergen (District 26)
• Minority Budget Officer: Nancy F. Munoz (District 21)
• Minority Parliamentarian: Brian E. Rumpf (District 9)
• Minority Policy Chair: Gerry Scharfenberger (District 13)
• Minority Appropriations Officer: Jay Webber (District 26)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Robert D. Clifton (District 12)
• Deputy Minority Conference Leader: Victoria A. Flynn (District 13)
• Assistant Minority Conference Leader: Michele Matsikoudis (District 21)
• Assistant Minority Conference Leader: Christian E. Barranco (District 25)
• Deputy Minority Whip: Erik Peterson (District 23)
• Assistant Minority Whip: Donald A. Guardian (District 2)
• Assistant Minority Whip: Aura K. Dunn (District 25)

Committee chairs

As announced by Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin:<^[7]

• Aging and Human Services – Asw. Speight
• Appropriations – Asw. Swain
• Budget – Asw. Pintor Marin
• Children, Families and Food Security – Asw. Haider
• Commerce, Economic Development and Agriculture – Asm. William Spearman (D-Camden, Gloucester)
• Consumer Affairs – Asm. William Sampson (D-Hudson)
• Education – Asw. Lampitt
• Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste – Asm. James Kennedy (D-Middlesex, Somerset, Union)
• Financial Institutions – Asm. Freiman
• Health – Asm. Conaway
• Higher Education – Asw. Carter
• Housing – Asw. Lopez
• Judiciary – Asw. Park
• Labor – Asm. Anthony Verrelli (D-Mercer, Hunterdon)
• Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations – Asm. Reginald Atkins (D-Union)
• Public Safety and Preparedness – Asm. Danielsen
• Military and Veterans Affairs – Asw. Cleopatra Tucker (D-Essex)
• Regulated Professions – Asm. Stanley
• State and Local Government – Asm. Robert J. Karabinchak (D-Middlesex)
• Telecommunications and Utilities – Asm. DeAngelo
• Tourism, Gaming and the Arts – Asm. Moen
• Transportation and Independent Authorities – Asm. Calabrese
• Community Development and Women’s Affairs – Asw. Shavonda E. Sumter (D-Bergen, Passaic)

Assembly members

The Assembly consists of 80 members, two for each district.

Legislative District		Assembly Member	Party		Assumed Office	Counties Represented	Residence
District 1			Republican	January 14, 2020	Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland	Lower Township
			Republican	January 14, 2020		Ocean City
District 2			Republican	January 11, 2022	Atlantic	Margate City
			Republican	January 11, 2022		Atlantic City
District 3			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Cumberland, Gloucester Salem	Glassboro
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Woodstown
District 4			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester	Gloucester Township
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Monroe Township
District 5			Democratic	June 30, 2018	Camden, Gloucester	Camden
			Democratic	January 14, 2020		Camden
District 6			Democratic	January 10, 2012	Burlington, Camden	Voorhees Township
			Democratic	January 10, 2006		Cherry Hill
District 7			Democratic	January 13, 1998	Burlington	Moorestown
			Democratic	January 9, 2018		Mount Laurel
District 8			Republican	January 11, 2022	Atlantic, Burlington	Hammonton
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Chesterfield Township
District 9			Republican	June 23, 2003	Ocean	Little Egg Harbor
			Republican	January 9, 2024		Stafford
District 10			Republican	January 10, 2012	Ocean, Monmouth	Toms River
			Republican	January 9, 2024		Point Pleasant Beach
District 11			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Monmouth	Ocean Township
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Long Branch
District 12			Republican	July 23, 2022	Burlington, Middlesex, Ocean	Jackson Township
			Republican	January 10, 2012		Matawan
District 13			Republican	January 11, 2022	Monmouth	Holmdel
			Republican	January 14, 2020		Middletown
District 14			Democratic	January 8, 2008	Mercer, Middlesex	Hamilton Township
			Democratic	January 8, 2024		Hamilton Township
District 15			Democratic	February 15, 2018	Hunterdon, Mercer	Trenton
			Democratic	August 5, 2018		Hopewell Township
District 16			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset	East Amwell
			Democratic	January 9, 2018		Hillsborough Township
District 17			Democratic	October 16, 2014	Middlesex, Somerset	Franklin Township
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		New Brunswick
District 18			Democratic	January 27, 2021	Middlesex	East Brunswick
			Democratic	May 26, 2016		Edison
District 19			Democratic	January 12, 2010	Middlesex	Woodbridge
			Democratic	January 9, 2018		Perth Amboy
District 20			Democratic	September 25, 2008	Union	Elizabeth
			Democratic	January 11, 2022		Roselle
District 21			Republican	January 11, 2022	Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Union	New Providence
			Republican	May 21, 2009		Summit
District 22			Democratic	January 12, 2016	Somerset, Union	Rahway
			Democratic	May 24, 2018		Plainfield
District 23			Republican	December 7, 2009	Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren	Franklin Township
			Republican	February 21, 2009		Hackettstown
District 24			Republican	January 9, 2024	Morris, Sussex, Warren	Franklin Borough
			Republican	January 9, 2024		Chester Township
District 25			Republican	November 21, 2019 ‡	Morris, Passaic	Mendham Borough
			Republican	January 11, 2022		Jefferson
District 26			Republican	January 14, 2020	Morris, Passaic	Denville
			Republican	January 8, 2008		Morris Plains
District 27			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Essex, Passaic	Livingston
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Montclair
District 28			Democratic	January 8, 2008	Essex, Union	Newark
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Maplewood
District 29			Democratic	September 11, 2013	Essex, Hudson	Newark
			Democratic	January 9, 2018		Newark
District 30			Republican	January 10, 2012 ±	Monmouth, Ocean	Wall
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Lakewood Township
District 31			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Hudson	Jersey City
			Democratic	January 11, 2022		Bayonne
District 32			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Hudson	Jersey City
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Hoboken
District 33			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Hudson	West New York
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		North Bergen
District 34			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Essex	Bloomfield
			Democratic	January 9, 2024		Belleville
District 35			Democratic	January 10, 2012	Bergen, Passaic	Paterson
			Democratic	January 10, 2012		Paterson
District 36			Democratic	January 10, 2006	Bergen, Passaic	Passaic
			Democratic	February 10, 2018		Cliffside Park
District 37			Democratic	January 11, 2022	Bergen	Englewood Cliffs
			Democratic	January 11, 2022		Tenafly
District 38			Democratic	May 24, 2018	Bergen	Fair Lawn
			Democratic	May 24, 2018		Bergenfield
District 39			Republican	January 9, 2024	Bergen	Saddle River
			Republican	January 14, 2014		Old Tappan
District 40			Republican	January 9, 2024	Bergen, Passaic	Cedar Grove
			Republican	January 9, 2018		Wyckoff

‡ Dunn was appointed to the seat in November 2019. The appointment expired at the conclusion of the 2018–19 term in January 2020. She was reappointed again in February 2020 after the start of the next term and then won the seat in a special election in November 2020.
± Kean previously served in the Assembly from 2002 to 2008

Senate

See also: 2023 New Jersey Senate election.

Senate composition

Starting January 9, 2024	Affiliation		Members
		Democratic Party	25
		Republican Party	15
	Total	40

Senate leadership

Democratic caucus

• Majority Leader: Sen. Theresa Ruiz
• Assistant Majority Leader: James Beach (District 6)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Linda R. Greenstein (District 14)
• Assistant Majority Leader: Gordon M. Johnson (District 37)
• Deputy Majority Leader: Paul A. Sarlo (District 36)
• Senate President Pro Tempore: Shirley K. Turner (District 15)
• Democratic Conference Chair: Vin Gopal (District 11)
• Majority Caucus Chair: Nellie Pou (District 35)
• Majority Whip: Troy Singleton (District 7)

Republican caucus

• Minority Leader: Sen. Anthony M. Bucco
• Deputy Republican Leader: Robert W. Singer (District 30)
• Deputy Republican Leader: Joseph Pennacchio (District 26)
• Conference Leader: Holly T. Schepisi (District 39)
• Budget Officer: Declan J. O'Scanlon Jr. (District 13)
• Ranking Member Judiciary Committee: Kristin M. Corrado (District 40)
• Republican Whip: Michael L. Testa Jr. (District 1)
• Deputy Conference Leader: Vincent J. Polistina District 2)

Committee chairs

As announced by Senate President Nick Scutari:^[8]

• Community and Urban Affairs: Senator Singleton
• Budget and Appropriations: Senator Sarlo
• Economic Growth: Senator Cruz-Perez
• Judiciary: Senator Stack
• Education: Senator Gopal
• Environment and Energy: Senator Smith
• Military and Veterans: Senator Johnson
• Labor: Senator Lagana
• Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens: Senator Vitale
• Higher Education: Senator Cryan
• State Government, Wagering, and Historic Preservation: Senator Beach
• Transportation: Senator Diegnan
• Senate Legislative Oversight: Senator Zwicker
• Commerce: Senator Pou
• Law and Public Safety: Senator Greenstein

Senate members

The Senate consists of 40 members, one for each district.

!District!Senator!Party!Assumed office!Counties represented!Residence

District 1			Republican	December 5, 2019	Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland	Vineland
District 2			Republican	November 8, 2021	Atlantic	Egg Harbor Township
District 3			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Cumberland, Gloucester Salem	Paulsboro
District 4			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester	Washington Township
District 5			Democratic	December 15, 2014	Camden, Gloucester	Barrington
District 6			Democratic	January 3, 2009	Burlington, Camden	Voorhees Township
District 7			Democratic	January 9, 2018	Burlington	Palmyra
District 8			Republican	January 9, 2024	Atlantic, Burlington	Southampton
District 9			Republican	January 9, 2024	Ocean	Lacey
District 10			Republican	January 10, 2012	Ocean, Monmouth	Toms River
District 11			Democratic	January 9, 2018	Monmouth	Long Branch
District 12			Republican	January 9, 2024	Burlington, Middlesex, Ocean	Old Bridge Township
District 13			Republican	January 9, 2018	Monmouth	Little Silver
District 14			Democratic	December 6, 2010	Mercer, Middlesex	Plainsboro Township
District 15			Democratic	January 13, 1998	Hunterdon, Mercer	Lawrence Township
District 16			Democratic	January 11, 2022	Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset	South Brunswick
District 17			Democratic	January 8, 2002	Middlesex, Somerset	Piscataway
District 18			Democratic	May 9, 2016	Middlesex	South Plainfield
District 19			Democratic	January 13, 1998	Middlesex	Woodbridge
District 20			Democratic	January 9, 2018	Union	Union Township
District 21			Republican	January 11, 2022	Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Union	Westfield
District 22			Democratic	January 13, 2004	Somerset, Union	Linden
District 23			Republican	December 19, 2022	Hunterdon, Somerset, Warren	Lopatcong
District 24			Republican	January 9, 2024	Morris, Sussex, Warren	Wantage
District 25			Republican	October 24, 2019	Morris, Passaic	Boonton Township
District 26			Republican	January 8, 2008	Morris, Passaic	Rockaway Township
District 27			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Essex, Passaic	West Orange
District 28			Democratic	September 29, 2022	Essex, Union	Irvington
District 29			Democratic	January 8, 2008	Essex, Hudson	Newark
District 30			Republican	October 14, 1993	Monmouth, Ocean	Lakewood Township
District 31			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Hudson	Jersey City
District 32			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Hudson	Jersey City
District 33			Democratic	January 8, 2008	Hudson	Union City
District 34			Democratic	January 9, 2024	Essex	East Orange
District 35			Democratic	January 10, 2012	Bergen, Passaic	North Haledon
District 36			Democratic	May 19, 2003	Bergen, Passaic	Wood-Ridge
District 37			Democratic	January 11, 2022	Bergen	Englewood
District 38			Democratic	April 12, 2018	Bergen	Paramus
District 39			Republican	March 25, 2021	Bergen	River Vale
District 40			Republican	October 5, 2017	Bergen, Passaic	Totowa

See also

• List of New Jersey state legislatures

Notes and References

1. Web site: . Fourth term will make Coughlin the longest-serving N.J. Assembly Speaker . . Mayfair Media . November 9, 2023 . November 27, 2023.
2. Web site: Assembly Republicans Reelect DiMaio as Leader . Insider NJ . Insider NJ . November 9, 2023 . January 3, 2024.
3. Web site: . Scutari re-elected Senate President, Ruiz gets another term as Majority Leader . . Mayfair Media . November 9, 2023 . November 27, 2023.
4. Web site: Bucco Unanimously Re-Elected as Senate Republican Caucus Leader . New Jersey Senate Republicans . New Jersey Senate Republican Office . November 9, 2023 . January 3, 2024.
5. https://pub.njleg.gov/publications/pdf/2023-NJ-Leg-District-Map.pdf Legislative Districts 2023-2030
6. Web site: Joey . Fox . The final tally of who’s leaving Trenton this year . . Mayfair Media . November 21, 2023 . November 27, 2023.
7. https://www.insidernj.com/coughlin-announces-assembly-committee-chair-appointments-for-221st-legislative-session/ Coughlin Announces Assembly Committee Chair Appointments for 221st Legislative Session
8. https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/scutari-announces-committee-assignments-for-221st-legislature/ Scutari Announces Committee Assignments for 221st Legislature