New Jersey General Assembly

New Jersey General Assembly
General Information
Party control:	Democrat
Session start:	January 9, 2024
Session end:	December 31, 2024
Term length:	2 years
Term limits:	None
Redistricting:	Commission
Salary:	$49,000/year
Members
Total:	80
Democrats:	52
Republicans:	28
Other:	0
Vacancies:	0
Leadership
Speaker:	Craig Coughlin (D)
Maj. Leader:	Louis Greenwald (D)
Min. Leader:	John DiMaio (R)
Elections
Last election:	November 7, 2023
Next election:	November 4, 2025

The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower chamber of the New Jersey State Legislature. Alongside the New Jersey State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the New Jersey state government and works alongside the governor of New Jersey to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the New Jersey General Assembly include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The New Jersey General Assembly meets in the State House in Trenton, New Jersey.

All 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly were up for election in 2023.

In the 2023 elections, Democrats increased their majority from 46-34 to 52-28. Click to read more »

New Jersey has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

This page contains the following information on the New Jersey General Assembly.

• Which party controls the chamber
• The chamber's current membership
• Partisan control of the chamber over time
• Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
• A district map
• How redistricting works in the state
• Legislation currently under consideration
• Legislative session dates
• Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
• A list of committees

Party control[edit]

Current partisan control[edit]

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the New Jersey General Assembly as of September 2024:

Party		As of September 2024
	Democratic Party	52
	Republican Party	28
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		80

Members[edit]

Leadership[edit]

The speaker of the Assembly is the presiding officer of the body.^[1]

Leadership and members[edit]

• House speaker: Craig Coughlin (D)
• Majority leader: Louis Greenwald (D)
• Minority leader: John DiMaio (R)

Salaries[edit]

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024[2]
Salary	Per diem
$49,000/year	No per diem is paid.

Swearing in dates[edit]

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

New Jersey legislators assume office at noon on the second Tuesday in January following the election.^[3]

Membership qualifications[edit]

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

In order to qualify as a candidate for the New Jersey General Assembly, a candidate must:^[4]

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be 21 years of age or older
• Be a registered voter
• Reside in the state for a minimum of two years prior to the general election
• Reside in the legislative district for one year prior to the general election

Historical party control[edit]

Democrats won control of the New Jersey General Assembly in 2001. In 2023, they won a 52-28 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the New Jersey General Assembly following every general election from 1991 to 2023. 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: 1991-2023

Year	'91	'93	'95	'97	'99	'01	'03	'05	'07	'09	'11	'13	'15	'17	'19	'21	'23
Democrats	22	27	30	32	35	44	47	48	48	47	48	48	52	54	52	46	52
Republicans	58	53	50	48	45	36	33	32	32	33	32	32	28	26	28	34	28

Trifecta history[edit]

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023 New Jersey was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: 2004-2009, 2018-2023
• Republican trifecta: 1994-2001
• Divided government: 1992-1993, 2002-2003, 2010-2017

New Jersey Party Control: 1992-2024
Thirteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Eight years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	S	S	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Assembly	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Elections[edit]

Elections by year[edit]

New Jersey state assembly members serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. New Jersey holds elections for its legislature in odd years.

Four states, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia hold their state legislative elections in odd-numbered years. New Jersey began holding elections in odd-numbered years when the state adopted a new constitution in 1947. Prior to the new constitution, members of the Assembly were elected to one-year terms, members of the Senate to three-year terms and governors to three-year terms. The new constitution changed the term structure to include two years for representatives and four-year terms for senators and governors. Because the constitution was adopted in an odd-numbered year, elections were also held in odd-numbered years and have continued in such a manner to this day.^[5]

2025[edit]

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2025

Elections for the New Jersey General Assembly will take place in 2025. The general election is on November 4, 2025.

2023[edit]

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 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.

In the 2023 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the New Jersey General Assembly from 46-34 to 52-28.

New Jersey General Assembly
Party		As of November 7, 2023	After November 8, 2023
	Democratic Party	46	52
	Republican Party	34	28
Total		80	80

2021[edit]

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2021

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.^[6]

New Jersey General Assembly
Party		As of November 2, 2021	After November 3, 2021
	Democratic Party	52	46
	Republican Party	28	34
Total		80	80

2019[edit]

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 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.

New Jersey General Assembly
Party		As of November 5, 2019	After November 6, 2019
	Democratic Party	54	52
	Republican Party	26	28
Total		80	80

2017[edit]

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2017

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.^[7] 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.^[8]

New Jersey General Assembly
Party		Before November 7 elections	After November 7 elections
	Democratic Party	52	54
	Republican Party	28	26
Total		80	80

2015[edit]

See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 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.^[9] All 80 seats were up for election in 2015.

Heading into the election, Democrats held a 48-31 majority with one vacancy. Democrats gained four seats in the election, giving them a 52-28 majority.

New Jersey General Assembly
Party		As of November 3, 2015	After November 3, 2015
	Democratic Party	48	52
	Republican Party	31	28
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		80	80

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2001

2013[edit] See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2013 Elections for the office of New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 4, 2013, and a general election on November 5, 2013. All 80 seats were up for election in 2013. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 48-32 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election. New Jersey General Assembly Party As of November 4, 2013 After the 2013 Election      Democratic Party 48 48      Republican Party 32 32 Total 80 80 2011[edit] See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2011 Elections for the office of the New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on April 10, 2011, and a general election on November 8, 2011. The candidate filing deadline was January 7, 2011. All 80 seats were up for election in 2011. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 47-33 majority. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 48-32 majority. New Jersey General Assembly Party As of November 2011 After the 2011 Election      Democratic Party 47 48      Republican Party 33 32 Total 80 80 During the 2011 election, the total value of contributions to the 215 Assembly candidates was $25,001,973. The top 10 contributors were:[10] 2011 Donors, New Jersey General Assembly Donor Amount New Jersey State Laborers $344,500 New Jersey Education Association $325,900 New Jersey Republican Party $296,965 New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters $296,950 Election Fund of Cook Conaway & Singleton $245,493 New Jersey Association of Realtors $242,450 1199 Seiu United Healthcare Workers East $185,400 Communications Workers New Jersey $162,500 Cmte to Elect Lesniak Cryan & Quijano $157,485 Democratic Assembly Campaign Cmte $155,183 2009[edit] See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2009 Elections for the office of the New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 9, 2009, and a general election on November 10, 2009. During the 2009 election, the total value of contributions to the Assembly candidates was $25,487,974. The top 10 contributors were:[11] 2009 Donors, New Jersey General Assembly Donor Amount Fund of Joe Roberts Assembly Speaker $861,000 New Jersey Education Association $367,675 New Jersey Association of Realtors $263,375 New Jersey Business & Industry Association $220,475 Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9 $214,825 New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters $212,710 Republican National Cmte $174,340 Electrical Workers Local 351 $149,400 New Jersey Dental Association $146,825 New Jersey Democratic Party $146,623 2007[edit] See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2007 Elections for the office of the New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2007, and a general election on November 6, 2007. During the 2007 election, the total value of contributions to the Assembly candidates was $26,388,602. The top 10 contributors were:[12] 2007 Donors, New Jersey General Assembly Donor Amount Public Fund $2,687,684 Panter & Mallet for Assembly $935,740 Hudson County Democratic Organization $803,942 New Jersey Republican Party $573,008 New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters $269,750 New Jersey Association of Realtors $268,700 New Jersey State Laborers $248,850 New Jersey Business & Industry Association $205,735 New Jersey Education Association $194,885 Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9 $191,950 2005[edit] See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2005 Elections for the office of the New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 7, 2005, and a general election on November 8, 2005. During the 2005 election, the total value of contributions to the Assembly candidates was $23,299,489. The top 10 contributors were:[13] 2005 Donors, New Jersey General Assembly Donor Amount Assembly Republican Victory 2005 $721,223 West New York Municipal Democratic Cmte $368,200 Public Fund $260,400 New Jersey Education Association $247,225 New Jersey State Laborers $244,300 New Jersey Association of Realtors $237,200 New Democratic Leadership Pac $235,917 Doherty & Reilly for Assembly $211,900 New Jersey Business & Industry Association $210,620 New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters $159,950 2003[edit] See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2003 Elections for the office of the New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 3, 2003, and a general election on November 4, 2003. During the 2003 election, the total value of contributions to the Assembly candidates was $15,682,188. The top 10 contributors were:[14] 2003 Donors, New Jersey General Assembly Donor Amount Hudson County Democratic Organization $566,802 New Jersey New Democratic Assembly Leadership $540,717 Assembly Republican Majority $429,263 New Democratic Assembly Leadership Pac $390,763 Camden County Democratic Cmte $377,229 New Jersey Democratic Party $279,900 New Jersey Education Association $175,132 New Jersey State Laborers $171,767 Medical Society of New Jersey $146,967 Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 9 $125,825 2001[edit] See also: New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2001 Elections for the office of the New Jersey General Assembly consisted of a primary election on June 26, 2001, and a general election on November 6, 2001. During the 2001 election, the total value of contributions to the Assembly candidates was $12,642,876. The top 10 contributors were:[15] 2001 Donors, New Jersey General Assembly Donor Amount Assembly Republican Majority of New Jersey $732,379 Camden County Democratic Cmte $460,450 New Jersey Democratic Party $444,370 Gloucester County Democratic Executive Cmte $306,000 Republican National State Elections Cmte $260,653 First Jersey Cmte $254,125 Democratic National Cmte $241,641 Cape May County Democratic Organization $230,000 New Jersey Education Association $219,572 Doria Democratic Leadership Fund $204,500

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the New Jersey State Legislature, the vacancy will be filled by an interim appointment by the county leadership of the political party that holds the seat. The office will be on the ballot in the next general election, unless the vacancy occurs within 51 days of the election. If that is the case, the appointment would stand until the following general election.^[16][17]

See sources: New Jersey Const., Art. IV, Sec. IV(1)

District map[edit]

See also: New Jersey state legislative districts

The state of New Jersey has 40 legislative districts. General Assembly members are elected from the same legislative districts as are members of the New Jersey State Senate. Each district elects two assembly members but only one senator.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Redistricting[edit]

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:^[18]

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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.^[18]

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.^[18]

State law requires that state legislative districts meet the following criteria:^[18]

1. Districts must be contiguous.
2. Districts "must be as nearly compact as possible."
3. Municipalities "must be kept intact, except where otherwise required by law."

There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.^[18]

2020[edit]

See also: Redistricting in New Jersey after the 2020 census

On February 18, 2022, the New Jersey Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted to approve a new set of state legislative maps.^[19] The commission voted 9-2 to approve the maps. Thomas Kean Jr. (R) and Cosmo A. Cirillo (D) were the two dissenting votes.^[20] 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."^[19] These maps took effect for New Jersey's 2023 legislative elections.

District map after 2020 redistricting[edit]

Click here to view the enacted map. This map took effect for New Jersey's 2023 legislative elections.

2010[edit]

See also: Redistricting in New Jersey after the 2010 census

New Jersey received its local census data on February 3, 2011, the state's population grew five percent from 2000 to 2010.^[21][22]

The Redistricting Commission had 60 days to decide on a map after receiving its local census data. With the commission unable to agree on a map within 30 days, Rutgers law professor Alan Rosenthal was appointed as the nonpartisan 11th member of the commission as required by state law When a compromise could not be reached, he cast the tie-breaking vote to approve a new map on April 3, 2011.^[23]

Sessions[edit]

Legislation[edit]

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the New Jersey General Assembly has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

Dates of legislative sessions in New Jersey by year[edit]

2024[edit]

See also: 2024 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 9, 2024, and adjourn on December 31, 2024.

2023[edit]

See also: 2023 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

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.

2022[edit] See also: 2022 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 11, 2022, and adjourn on December 31, 2022. 2021[edit] See also: 2021 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2021, and adjourn on January 11, 2022. 2020[edit] See also: 2020 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 14, 2020, and adjourn on December 17, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic[edit] See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. 2019[edit] See also: 2019 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 9, 2019, through January 14, 2020. 2018[edit] See also: 2018 New Jersey legislative session and Dates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 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. 2017[edit] See also: Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions and Potential government shutdowns In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2017, through January 9, 2018. Click [show] to read about the 2017 partial government shutdown. New Jersey's three-day partial government shutdown came to an end on July 4, 2017, after Gov. Chris Christie (R) signed a $34.7 billion state budget into law.[24] The New Jersey government went into a partial shutdown on July 1, 2017, after Democratic leadership in the Legislature and Christie failed to reach an agreement over the budget by the start of the new fiscal year. New Jersey last experienced a partial government shutdown in 2006. The budget impasse in 2017 centered on a proposal by Christie to restructure Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, the state's largest health insurance company. Christie said he would not sign the budget, which included over $325 million in funding for Democratic priorities, unless it included the Horizon legislation. Both Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) were in favor of including legislation in the state budget that would allow for more government oversight of the insurance provider. The legislation would have also required Horizon to dedicate its excess surplus to fund drug treatment programs. Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D) opposed the legislation, arguing that it could increase premiums for Horizon's policyholders. Fearing that Christie might line-item veto Democratic-backed proposals in the budget if the Horizon legislation was not included, many members of the Legislature abstained from voting on the budget which led to the shutdown.[25] On July 3, 2017, the Legislature and Christie reached an agreement to end the shutdown but the legislation was not signed until the early morning of June 4, 2017. The $34.7 billion budget included increased spending for education and healthcare and also established a cap on Horizon's reserves. Instead of the excess surplus going to fund drug treatment programs, the budget required the money to be used to limit future premium increases for Horizon's 3.8 million policyholders. The legislation also added two public members to Horizon's board.[26] The Assembly voted 53-23 in favor of the budget, while the state Senate backed it 21-14.[26] 2016[edit] See also: Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 12 through January 10, 2017. 2015[edit] See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 13 through January 11, 2016. Major issues in 2015[edit] Major 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.[27] 2014[edit] See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 14 through January 12, 2015. Major issues in 2014[edit] Major 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.[28] 2013[edit] See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2013, to January 13, 2014. Major issues in 2013[edit] Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included rebuilding the state after superstorm Sandy and gun control.[29] 2012[edit] See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2012, to January 9, 2013. 2011[edit] In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 12, 2011, to January 9, 2012.[30] 2010[edit] In 2010, the legislature convened on January 12, and remained in session throughout the year.[31]

About legislative sessions in New Jersey[edit]

The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.^[32] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Article IV of the New Jersey Constitution establishes when the New Jersey State Legislature, of which the General Assembly is a part, is to be in session. Section 1 of Article IV states that each annual session is to begin on the second Tuesday of January. The session does not end until the beginning of the next annual session or until the Legislature chooses to adjourn.

Section 1 also allows for special sessions of the Legislature to be called by the Governor of New Jersey or by a majority of the members of each legislative house.

Legislative roles and procedures[edit]

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

Veto overrides[edit]

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."

Role in state budget[edit]

See also: New Jersey state budget and finances

New Jersey on

Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[33]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in September.
2. State agency requests are submitted in October.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the New Jersey State Legislature on or before the fourth Tuesday in February.^[34]
4. The legislature adopts a budget on or before June 30. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
5. The fiscal year begins July 1.

New Jersey is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.^[33][35]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is also constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget.^[33]

Committees[edit]

See also: List of committees in New Jersey state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

• Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
• Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
• Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The New Jersey General Assembly has 27 standing committees:

Constitutional amendments[edit]

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:

See also: Article IX of the New Jersey Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in New Jersey

The New Jersey Constitution provides for a legislative process to amend the state constitution.

Legislature[edit]

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

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[edit]

Elections	New Jersey State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2023 New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2021 New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2019 New Jersey General Assembly elections, 2017	New Jersey State Legislature New Jersey State Senate Governor of New Jersey New Jersey Supreme Court	State legislative elections: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures

External links[edit]

• New Jersey State Legislature

Footnotes[edit]

v • e State legislatures Legislatures Alabama (H, S) · Alaska (H, S) · Arizona (H, S) · Arkansas (H, S) · California (A, S) · Colorado (H, S) · Connecticut (H, S) · Delaware (H, S) · Florida (H, S) · Georgia (H, S) · Hawaii (H, S) · Idaho (H, S) · Illinois (H, S) · Indiana (H, S) · Iowa (H, S) · Kansas (H, S) · Kentucky (H, S) · Louisiana (H, S) · Maine (H, S) · Maryland (H, S) · Massachusetts (H, S) · Michigan (H, S) · Minnesota (H, S) · Mississippi (H, S) · Missouri (H, S) · Montana (H, S) · Nebraska · Nevada (A, S) · New Hampshire (H, S) · New Jersey (GA, S) · New Mexico (H, S) · New York (A, S) · North Carolina (H, S) · North Dakota (H, S) · Ohio (H, S) · Oklahoma (H, S) · Oregon (H, S) · Pennsylvania (H, S) · Rhode Island (H, S) · South Carolina (H, S) · South Dakota (H, S) · Tennessee (H, S) · Texas (H, S) · Utah (H, S) · Vermont (H, S) · Virginia (H, S) · Washington (H, S) · West Virginia (H, S) · Wisconsin (A, S) · Wyoming (H, S) 2024 State legislative elections (2024) • State legislative special elections (2024) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2024 Session Dates 2023 State legislative elections (2023) • State legislative special elections (2023) • Primary dates and filing requirements • 2023 Session Dates Historical elections 2022 •  2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 Features of state legislatures How vacancies are filled in state legislatures • States with a full-time legislature • State legislatures with term limits • Comparison of state legislative salaries • When state legislators assume office after a general election • Population represented by state legislators • State constitutional articles governing state legislatures • State legislative sessions • Resign-to-run law • State legislature candidate requirements by state • Official names of state legislatures • State legislative chambers that use multi-member districts • Factors Affecting Competitiveness in State Legislative Elections State senates Length of terms of state senators • State senators • Partisan composition of state senates • State senators sorted by year first elected State houses Length of terms of state representatives • State representatives • Partisan composition of state houses • State representatives sorted by year first elected Leadership positions President of the Senate • President Pro Tempore • Senate Majority Leader • Senate Minority Leader • House Majority Leader • House Minority Leader • State Speaker of the House

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