Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
New Jersey Senate convenes, elects Nicholas P. Scattari as president and adopts organizational resolutions
Loading...
Summary
The New Jersey State Senate opened the 220th legislative session, swore in members, elected Nicholas P. Scattari as Senate president, confirmed leadership posts and adopted organizational resolutions ahead of a joint session for the governor's State of the State address.
The New Jersey State Senate convened for the organizational proceedings of the first annual session of the 220th legislature, swore in newly elected members and completed leadership elections and procedural business before recessing for a 3:00 p.m. joint session to receive the governor's State of the State address.
Senators stood for an invocation offered by the Reverend Chase Danford of Trinity Church in Asbury Park and then recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Senator John Branger. The secretary read a Department of State certification noting a November 2025 election for a newly chosen senator; an oath of office was administered to that member.
The body established a quorum after roll call and proceeded to nominations. Senator Scattari (Union County) called for the selection of a temporary president and nominated Minority Leader Anthony Buco of Morris County. By voice vote the ayes prevailed. A temporary secretary was named by voice vote after Senator Patrick J. Deignan Jr. nominated a candidate and Senator Lagano was declared temporary secretary. For the permanent presidency, Senator Gopal nominated Nicholas P. Scattari of Union County; a voice vote elected Scattari as Senate president. Superior Court Judge Daniel Roberts of Linden administered the oath to the president.
In his remarks, President Scattari thanked colleagues and staff, emphasized a commitment to bipartisanship and listed top priorities including affordability, transit funding, education and public safety. Scattari said the chamber would continue to assert its role in state governance and defended the Legislature's collaborative work with the governor's office.
Majority Leader Carissa Ruiz delivered extended remarks about representation, public service and working across geographic and demographic differences to improve quality of life for New Jersey families. "We want a better quality of life for our children," she said, urging focus on practical policies and committee work.
Minority Leader Anthony Buco congratulated the leadership and urged cross-aisle cooperation while warning of fiscal pressures. He said the state faces "a looming $4,000,000,000 deficit," and said residents could not sustain another tax increase; he called for bipartisan sponsorships and practical cost-cutting measures.
Senator Shirley Turner was elected president pro tempore and Addison Hinrichs was elected permanent secretary by voice vote. Senator Gordon Johnson moved, and Senator Paul Moriarty seconded, the adoption of the Senate organizational resolutions and a concurrent resolution concerning legislative organization; both were adopted by voice vote. The secretary was directed to notify the General Assembly and the governor that the Senate had organized.
The Senate recessed to reconvene at 3:00 p.m. for the joint session to receive the State of the State address. The Reverend Danford closed the ceremony with a brief benediction.
No substantive policy bills were debated or voted on during the organizational proceedings; the session focused on oaths, leadership elections and formal adoption of routine organizational resolutions.
