Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Calendar topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate adopts wide slate of third‑reading bills, honors Olympians and state champions
Summary
At a voting session in Trenton the Senate passed numerous bills on third reading across housing, education, accessibility, infrastructure and environmental funding, adopted ceremonial resolutions honoring Olympians and high‑school champions, confirmed nominations and moved a set of amendments back to second reading for amendment.
The New Jersey State Senate convened for a voting session that opened with a prayer and the pledge, then proceeded through routine business, ceremonial resolutions, nominations and a long calendar of third‑reading votes across topics including housing, education, accessibility, renewable energy and state infrastructure financing.
Ceremonies and recognitions led the floor work early. The Senate adopted a resolution honoring Jessica Perlmutter, Michael O'Hearn and Kelly Curtis for representing New Jersey at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics; Senator McCain praised Perlmutter’s young achievements and invited the athletes forward. The chamber also honored Arts High School (Girls) and Malcolm X Shabazz High School (Boys) for NJSIAA Group 1 state championships (games played March 15, 2026), with Senator Ruiz congratulating Newark students.
On nominations, Senator Stack placed a list from the May 21 Senate Judiciary Committee on the desk; the secretary recorded the vote and the nominations on list 1 were confirmed by recorded tally (reported 34 affirmative votes).
During the legislative calendar the Senate moved and passed a series of third‑reading bills. Selected items recorded on the floor include:
- Senate Bill 219 (sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner): establishes guidelines for creditworthiness determinations in affordable‑housing programs (reported on the machine as 23 affirmative, 13 negative).
- Senate Bill 693 (Senator Deignan): prevents municipalities from requiring certain plan approvals for adding up to five van‑accessible parking spaces; reported passed unanimously (35‑0).
- Senate Bill 1279 (Senator Greenstein): creates a Youth Detention Task Force; recorded as passed (36‑0).
- Senate Bill 1340 (Senator Pinacchio): requires the Commissioner of Education to develop guidance on accommodations for students fasting for religious or medical reasons; passed (36‑0).
- Senate Bill 1420 (Senator Lagana): modifies requirements for reverse mortgage payment periods; passed (reported 35‑0).
- A variety of other bills and substitutions were adopted on voice vote or recorded tally, including proposals related to infrastructure bank loans (S‑4217, S‑4220, S‑4221), renewable energy on preserved farmland (S‑3944), captioning on state building televisions (S‑3237), therapy dogs pilot in elementary schools (S‑3453) and multiple substitutions of Assembly bills for Senate bills under Rule 17:3.
The clerk and presiding officer repeatedly called the machine for recorded votes and announced tallies; in several instances the vote was unanimous or lopsided in favor. The Senate also moved a package of bills back to second reading for the purpose of amendment, and distributed amendments according to chamber rules.
