New Jersey State Legislature
| New Jersey State Legislature | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | January 9, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Nicholas Scutari (D) |
| House Speaker: | Craig Coughlin (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Teresa Ruiz (New Jersey) (D) House: Louis Greenwald (D) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Anthony M. Bucco (R) House: John DiMaio (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 40 (Senate), 80 (General Assembly) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (General Assembly) |
| Authority: | Art Article IV, New Jersey Constitution |
| Salary: | $49,000/year |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 7, 2023 |
| Next election: | November 4, 2025 |
| Redistricting: | Commission |
The New Jersey State Legislature is the state of New Jersey's legislative branch, seated in the New Jersey State House at the state's capital, Trenton. The Legislature is bicameral, consisting of two houses: the New Jersey General Assembly and the New Jersey Senate.
New Jersey has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Elections
2025
Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly will take place in 2025. The general election is on November 4, 2025.
2023
Elections for the New Jersey State Senate took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was June 6, 2023. The filing deadline was March 27, 2023.
Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was June 6, 2023. The filing deadline was March 27, 2023.
2021
Elections for the New Jersey State Senate took place in 2021. The primary was on June 8, 2021, and the general election was on November 2. The filing deadline for candidates was April 5, 2021.[1]
Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2021. The primary was on June 8, 2021, and the general election was on November 2. The filing deadline for candidates was April 5, 2021.[2]
2019
Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2019. The primary was on June 4, 2019, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was April 1, 2019.
2017
Elections for the New Jersey State Senate took place in 2017. All 40 seats were up for election. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 6, 2017. The filing deadline for the primary election was April 3, 2017.[3][4]
Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2017. All 80 seats were up for election. State assembly members are elected to two-year terms. The general election took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on June 6, 2017. The filing deadline for the primary election was April 3, 2017.[5] Legislative districts in the New Jersey General Assembly are multi-member districts, with two representatives in each district. In Democratic and Republican primary elections, the top two candidates move forward to the general election, and the top two candidates in the general election are declared the winners.[6]
2015
Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2015. A primary election was held on June 2, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2015.[7]
2013
Elections for the office of New Jersey State Senate took place in 2013. The primary election was held on June 4, 2013, and the general election was held on November 2, 2013. The candidate filing deadline was April 1, 2013.
Elections for the office of New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2013. The primary election was held on June 4, 2013, and the general election was held on November 5, 2013. The candidate filing deadline was April 1, 2013.
2011
Elections for the office of New Jersey State Senate took place in 2011. The primary election was held on June 7, 2011, and the general election was held on November 8, 2011. The candidate filing deadline was April 11, 2011. New Jersey's state senators typically serve four-year terms. However, after each decennial census, the senators elected in the first post-redistricting election only serve for two years. Thus, in the 2011 election, each senator was elected to a two-year term.
Elections for the office of New Jersey General Assembly took place in 2011. The primary election was held on June 7, 2011, and the general election was held on November 8, 2011. The candidate filing deadline was April 11, 2011.
Sessions
Article IV of the New Jersey Constitution provides that each Legislature is constituted for a term of two years, split into two annual sessions. Because the Constitution also specifies that all business from the first year may be continued into the second year, the distinction between the two annual sessions is more ceremonial than actual. The two-year legislative term begins at noon on the second Tuesday in January of each even-numbered year, which for the 2016-2018 term was on January 12, 2016. At the end of the second year, all unfinished business expires.
Article IV also allows the Governor of New Jersey to call special sessions of the Legislature. Additionally, a special session can be called if a majority of each legislative house petitions the Governor requesting a special session.
2024
- See also: 2024 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on January 9, 2024, and adjourn on December 31, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 10, 2023, and adjourn on January 8, 2024.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2022, and adjourn on December 31, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2021, and adjourn on January 11, 2022. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 14, 2020, and adjourn on December 17, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2019, through January 14, 2020. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2018, through January 8, 2019. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2017, through January 9, 2018.
2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 12 through January 10, 2017. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 13 through January 11, 2016. Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included pension reform, funding the Transportation Trust Fund, property taxes, and bills aimed at improving the economic climate in Atlantic City after the closing of three casinos in a short span of time.[11] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 14 through January 12, 2015. Major issues in 2014Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included lowering property taxes, establishing the "Hurricane Sandy Bill of Rights," pay equity for women, funding for women’s health care, and making college more affordable.[12] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2013, to January 13, 2014. Major issues in 2013Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included rebuilding the state after superstorm Sandy and gun control.[13] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2012, to January 9, 2013. 2011In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 12, 2011, to January 9, 2012.[14] 2010In 2010, the legislature convened on January 12, and remained in session throughout the year.[15] |
Role in state budget
- See also: New Jersey state budget and finances
New Jersey on 
|
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[16]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in September.
- State agency requests are submitted in October.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the New Jersey State Legislature on or before the fourth Tuesday in February.[17]
- The legislature adopts a budget on or before June 30. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
- The fiscal year begins July 1.
New Jersey is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[16]
The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is also constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.[16]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $49,000/year | No per diem is paid. |
When sworn in
New Jersey legislators assume office at noon on the second Tuesday in January following the election.[18]
Senate
The New Jersey Senate is the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature. It consists of 40 Senators.
As of the 2020 Census, New Jersey state senators represented an average of 232,362 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 220,188 residents.
Senators must be 30 years of age or older, must have lived in the state a minimum of four years, and must live in the district represented.
Senators serve four-year terms, except in the first term of a new decade, which only lasts for two years. The "2-4-4" cycle was put into place so that Senate elections can reflect the changes made to the district boundaries on the basis of the decennial United States Census. (If the cycle were not put into place, then the boundaries would sometimes be four years out of date before being used for Senate elections. Rather, with the varied term, the boundaries are only two years out of date). Thus elections for Senate seats take place in years ending with a "1," "3" or "7" (e.g., 2011, 2013 and 2017 this decade).
Interim appointments are made to fill vacant legislative seats by the county committee or committees of the party of the vacating person. The office is on the ballot for the next general election (regardless if all other Senate seats are up in that year, such as in years ending with a "5" or "9," such as 2015 and 2019 this decade), unless the vacancy occurred within 51 days of the election. Then the appointment stands until the following general election.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 25 | |
| Republican Party | 15 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the New Jersey State Senate in 2003. In 2021, they won a 24-16 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the New Jersey Senate following every general election from 1991 to 2021. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
New Jersey State Senate election results: 1991-2021
| Party | 91 | 93 | 97 | 01 | 03 | 07 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 13 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 |
| Republicans | 27 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 |
General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature. The Assembly consists of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years.
As of the 2020 Census, New Jersey state representatives represented an average of 116,181 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 110,094 residents.
To be eligible to run, a potential candidate must be at least 21 years of age, and must have lived in New Jersey for at least two years prior to the election. They also must be residents of their districts. Membership in the Assembly is considered a part-time job, and many members have employment in addition to their legislative work. Assembly members serve two-year terms, elected every odd-numbered year in November. Several members of the Assembly hold other elective office.
The Assembly is led by the Speaker of the Assembly, who is elected by the membership. The Speaker is the third in line after the Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate to replace the Governor, should he prove unable to execute his duties. The Speaker decides the schedule for the Assembly, which bills will be considered, appoints committee chairmen, and generally runs the business of the Assembly.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 45 | |
| Republican Party | 34 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 80 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the New Jersey General Assembly in 2001. In 2021, they won a 46-34 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the New Jersey General Assembly following every general election from 1991 to 2021. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
New Jersey General Assembly election results: 1991-2021
| Year | '91 | '93 | '95 | '97 | '99 | '01 | '03 | '05 | '07 | '09 | '11 | '13 | '15 | '17 | '19 | '21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 22 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 44 | 47 | 48 | 48 | 47 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 54 | 52 | 46 |
| Republicans | 58 | 53 | 50 | 48 | 45 | 36 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 34 |
District maps
State Senate
State Assembly
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in New Jersey are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 54 of the 80 members in the New Jersey General Assembly and 27 of the 40 members in the New Jersey State Senate. New Jersey is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| According to Article V, Section 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, vetoes issued during the first year of the legislative session can be overridden in a special veto session that automatically occurs 45 days following adjournment. |
Authority: Article V, Section 1 of the New Jersey Constitution.
| "Upon receiving from the Governor a bill returned by him with his objections, the house in which it originated shall enter the objections at large in its journal or minutes and proceed to reconsider it. If, upon reconsideration, on or after the third day following its return, or the first day of a special session convened for the sole purpose of acting on such bills, two-thirds of all the members of the house of origin agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections of the Governor, to the other house; and if, upon reconsideration, it is approved by two-thirds of all the members of the house, it shall become a law." |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
New Jersey State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the New Jersey State Senate for the first 10 years and the Democratic Party was the majority for the last 10 years.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
New Jersey State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the New Jersey State House of Representatives for the last 12 years and the Republicans were the majority for the first 10 years.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Senate and the New Jersey House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
New Jersey was one of eight states to demonstrate a dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of New Jersey state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. New Jersey had Republican trifectas from 1994-2001 and Democratic trifectas from 2004-2009. There were four years when New Jersey finished in the top-10, all of those years with Republican trifectas.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 18.67
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 9.75
- SQLI average with divided government: 21.86
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in New Jersey
In New Jersey, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by two distinct politician commissions. The congressional redistricting commission comprises the following 13 members:[19]
- The majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the New Jersey State Legislature appoint two commissioners a piece (for a total of eight members).
- The chairs of the state's two major political parties each appoint two members to the commission (for a total of four members). Commissioners appointed by the political parties cannot be members of Congress or congressional employees.
- The first 12 commissioners appoint the last member. This member cannot have held public office in the state within the previous five-year period. If the first 12 commissioners cannot agree on an appointment, they must submit two names to the New Jersey Supreme Court. The court must then appoint the final commissioner.
If the congressional redistricting commission fails to reach an agreement about a redistricting plan, it must submit two plans to the state Supreme Court, which must in turn select from those two plans a final map.[19]
The state legislative redistricting commission comprises 10 members. The chairs of the state's two major political parties each appoint five members to the commission. In the event that this commission is unable to reach an agreement about a redistricting plan, the state Supreme Court may appoint a tie-breaking member.[19]
State law requires that state legislative districts meet the following criteria:[19]
- Districts must be contiguous.
- Districts "must be as nearly compact as possible."
- Municipalities "must be kept intact, except where otherwise required by law."
There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[19]
2020
On February 18, 2022, the New Jersey Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted to approve a new set of state legislative maps.[20] The commission voted 9-2 to approve the maps. Thomas Kean Jr. (R) and Cosmo A. Cirillo (D) were the two dissenting votes.[21] The New Jersey Monitor's Nikita Biryukov wrote that the vote was "an unprecedented compromise for a commission that has historically relied on a court-appointed tiebreaker to end partisan gridlock."[20] These maps took effect for New Jersey's 2023 legislative elections.
2010
Congressional redistricting, 2010
Following the 2010 United States Census, New Jersey lost one congressional seat. On December 23, 2011, the congressional redistricting commission approved its plan for new congressional district boundaries.[19][22]
State legislative redistricting, 2010
When the state legislative redistricting commission failed to adopt a final redistricting plan by the March 3, 2011, deadline, the New Jersey Supreme Court appointed a tie-breaking member to the commission. On April 3, 2011, the commission approved final state legislative district maps.[19]
Joint Legislative Committees
The New Jersey State Legislature has five joint committees:
- Joint Budget Oversight Committee, New Jersey Legislature
- Housing Affordability Committee, New Jersey State Legislature
- Public Schools Committee, New Jersey State Legislature
- Ethical Standards Committee, New Jersey State Legislature
- State Leasing and Space Utilization Committee, New Jersey State Legislature
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the New Jersey Constitution can be amended:
The New Jersey Constitution provides for a legislative process to amend the state constitution.
Legislature
The New Jersey Constitution provides two legislative methods for referring a constitutional amendment to the ballot. First, the legislature can refer an amendment to the ballot through a 60% vote of both chambers during one legislative session. That amounts to a minimum of 48 votes in the New Jersey General Assembly and 24 votes in the New Jersey State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Second, the legislature can refer an amendment through a simple majority vote (50%+1) in each legislative chamber during two successive legislative sessions. That amounts to a minimum of 41 votes in the New Jersey General Assembly and 21 votes in the New Jersey State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | New Jersey State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ NJ.gov, "2021 Primary Election Timeline," accessed January 22, 2021
- ↑ NJ.gov, "2021 Primary Election Timeline," accessed January 22, 2021
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2017 Primary Election Timeline," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Division of Elections, "Official List, Candidate for State Senate for Primary Election, June 6, 2017," accessed April 13, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Secretary of State, "2017 Primary Election Timeline," accessed March 21, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Division of Elections, "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly for Primary Election, June 6, 2017," accessed April 13, 2017
- ↑ New Jersey Department of Elections, "2015 Primary Election Timeline," accessed February 2, 2015
- ↑ NY Times, "Standoff Ends in Budget Deal for New Jersey," July 3, 2017
- ↑ NBC New York, "Gov. Christie Orders New Jersey Government Shutdown Amid Budget Impasse," July 1, 2017
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Politico, "Christie signs N.J. budget, ending 3-day government shutdown," July 3, 2017
- ↑ Law 360, "New Jersey Legislation And Regulation To Watch In 2015," accessed January 21, 2014
- ↑ www.nj.com, "New N.J. Legislature sworn in as Democrats focus on taxes, Hurricane Sandy," accessed January 15, 2014
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Sandy Sets New Agenda for Christie ," January 6, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed July 7, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ The deadline may be extended for new governors with the agreement of the state legislature.
- ↑ New Jersey Constitution, "Article IV, Section II," accessed February 2, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 All About Redistricting, "New Jersey," accessed May 6, 2015
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 New Jersey Monitor, "Democrats, GOP agree on new legislative map for N.J.," February 18, 2022
- ↑ Insider NJ, "Redistricting Commission Finalizes Legislative Map by 9-2 Vote," February 18, 2022
- ↑ Barone, M. & McCutcheon, C. (2013). The almanac of American politics 2014 : the senators, the representatives and the governors : their records and election results, their states and districts. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
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