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Press Contact: 609.847.3500
Vincent Onofre | vonofre@njleg.org
| | | The newley elected Assembly Leadership Team for the 222nd Legislative Session met with Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill on November 6, 2025. | | | Members of the Assembly Democratic Caucus convened in Trenton on November 6, to select the Leadership Team for the 222nd Legislative Session. Speaker Craig J. Coughlin was chosen to serve a historic fifth term as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly. Read more at assemblydems.com. | |
Fighting Hunger in New Jersey | Speaker Coughlin (middle), Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (left), and Mark Dinglasan (right), Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, join New Jersey farmers for a roundtable discussion on strengthening and enhancing the resilience of our food system. | |
New Jersey, and many other states, face rising rates of food insecurity following federal cuts that stripped millions from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In addition, funding for the Women, Infants and Children program is at risk. In contrast, Assembly Democrats continue to pursue all efforts to make sure hungry people in New Jersey are fed.
At the 2nd Annual Garden State Conference on Food Security: Setting a Table for All, for Always, Assembly Speaker Coughlin announced that he is set to introduce two new bills to bolster the fight against hunger in New Jersey and ensure families can continue to access critical nutrition programs.
“We know that no one can solve hunger alone, and that’s why in New Jersey we’ve made it our mission not just to ease the burden for families, but to lead the way by bringing partners together at every level,” said Speaker Coughlin. “The Garden State Conference on Food Security is proof of that commitment and reminds us all that together we can build a foundation where no one gets left behind.”
Visit assemblydems.com to learn how the event brought together hundreds of stakeholders from across New Jersey and other states dedicated to making food security a reality.
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During a recent tour of Hungry Work Organic Farm in Central Jersey, Speaker Coughlin and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli announced $6.8 million in funding, secured in the current State budget, to bolster two vital programs for farmers – the federal Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). Read more on how, by helping restore funding, New Jersey is strengthening local food systems and ensuring that fresh, nutritious produce reaches school cafeterias and communities across the state.
State legislators and New Jersey farmers also came together to discuss how to build a more resilient food system — from expanding school purchasing programs to creating stable markets for Jersey-grown produce. Together, they’re laying the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable food future.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County, the community garden has become more than a place to grow food — it’s a place to grow opportunities. Speaker Coughlin and Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy joined the Boys & Girls Club for a celebration featuring a cooking demonstration, family activities, and a generous donation from DoorDash to help ensure that families have consistent access to fresh, affordable food. Read more about the event at assemblydems.com.
Speaker Coughlin and Assemblywoman Shama Haider announced $25,000 in funding, secured in this year’s State budget, to strengthen the Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Program's food distribution efforts for the local community. Additionally, as part of Gleaning Week 2025, Speaker Coughlin joined volunteers and fellow Assembly members at Giamarese Farm & Orchards to harvest fresh produce for families across New Jersey.
Gleaning, volunteering, and lending a hand to our neighbors are simple but powerful acts that demonstrate the power of community and the difference every effort can make.
| | | | FEEDING NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE | | |
During National School Lunch Week in October, we were reminded that hunger impacts more than just health — it affects focus, confidence, and opportunity. New Jersey has taken action to ensure more students can rely on a healthy meal every day by expanding free breakfast and lunch to tens of thousands more children, strengthening our schools, our communities, and our future.
Watch as Speaker Coughlin (video) and Assemblymen Gabriel Rodriguez (video) and Bill Spearman (video) discuss the importance of providing students with nutritious meals because every child deserves the chance to thrive.
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College students should be focused on learning, not worried about where their next meal is coming from. However, in New Jersey, more than 1 in 3 college students report experiencing food insecurity and that’s a crisis we can’t ignore. Thanks to the Hunger-Free Campus Act, New Jersey awarded $1.2 million last year to 34 colleges to support food pantries, meal programs, and research—helping ensure that college students don’t just get by, but thrive.
Watch New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges highlight how New Jersey is tackling college hunger and see the latest Food Security Survey to learn more.
| | | | During the 2024-2025 school year, ten Woodbridge school buses used BusPatrol’s AI-powered stop-arm cameras and captured 2,840 incidents of drivers illegally passing stopped buses during student pick-up and drop-off. Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak spoke with News12 about his proposed legislation, A1432, which would allow school buses to use cameras to record moving violations. Learn more at news12.com. | | | Assemblyman Dan Hutchison was recently interviewed by CBS News, about a bill he introduced that would prohibit prop-style "microbets" in sports betting in the Garden State. Unlike traditional bets that are won - or lost - based on the outcome of a game, "microbets" allow gamblers to make bets on specific in-game moments from how a coin toss will go to how many points an individual player will score. Read the full interview here cbsnews.com. | | | | | | Assemblyman Julio Marenco recently spoke with Metro Latino USA to discuss the signing of A3871. The legislation, which the Assemblyman sponsored, will ensure that the history and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans are acknowledged and reflected in the public school curriculum. Assemblywomen Eliana Pintor Marin, Carmen Morales and Annette Quijano also sponsored the bill. Read the full interview in Spanish at metrolatinousa.com. | | | |
During the month of October, Assembly members across the state took part in community events that ranged from connecting residents with vital resources and support to honoring the courageous individuals who serve and strengthen our communities every day.
Assemblyman Roy Freiman and Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis hosted a public listening session at Raritan Valley Community College, where residents had the opportunity to share their thoughts directly with New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Francis O’Connor regarding the proposed improvements and expansion of Solberg Airport. Visit assemblydems.com to read about why events like these ensure residents are informed and engaged regarding local projects.
Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul joined the Neptune community to celebrate Monmouth County’s Hometown Heroes, the first responders and emergency personnel who serve with courage every single day. From saving lives to breaking barriers, these local heroes embody what service truly means. Watch Assemblywoman Donlon talk about the importance of honoring these men and women on our YouTube page and read about the event at assemblydems.com.
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COMING SOON
- Sole to Soul: A Community Sock Drive
- Drop off Dates: November 3, 2025 to November 17, 2025
- Drop off Locations:
- Hamilton Township Free Public Library at 1 Justice Samuel Alito Jr. Way, Hamilton, NJ 08619
- Office of Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo at 4621 A Nottingham Way, Hamilton, NJ 08690
- Hosted by Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo
- Small Business Resource Expo
- Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
- At the East Orange Public Library, 2nd floor, East Orange Room — 21 S Arlington Ave, East Orange, NJ 07018
- Hosted by Assemblywoman Carmen Morales
- Veterans Resource Fair
- Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- At 621 Washington Ave., Belleville, NJ 07109
- Hosted by Assemblywoman Carmen Morales
- Utility Assistance Day
- Friday, November 21, 2025 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
- At the Sheriff Armando & Mary Fontoura Community Center, Independence Park, 230 Adams St., Newark, NJ 07105
- Hosted by Assemblywomen Eliana Pintor Marin and Shanique Speight
- 2025 Head-to-Toe Winter Clothing Drive
- Drop off Dates: November 5, 2025 to January 16, 2026
- Drop off Locations: 334 Elizabeth Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873
- Hosted by Assemblyman Joe Danielsen
- Higher Education Information Sessions for New Jersey Families
- Dates and Locations:
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Tuesday, November 25, 2025 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Hollowbrook Community Center — 320 Hollowbrook Dr., Ewing, NJ 08638
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Monday, December 1, 2025 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Mercer County Library: Lawrence Branch — 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648
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Tuesday, January 6, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Mercer County Library: Hopewell Branch — 245 Pennington Titusville Rd., Pennington, NJ 08534
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Mercer County Library: Hopewell Branch — 245 Pennington Titusville Rd., Pennington, NJ 08534
- Hosted by Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson
| | | Translations in Spanish available upon request | | Traducciones en Español disponibles por solicitud | | | | | |
