New Year, New Faces
January 10, 2025

Monday felt a little like the first day of school in the capitol, as 31 new members in the State Assembly and six in the State Senate took the oath of office for the first time. Inauguration Day is an exciting time to be in the Capitol as we welcome new members and kick off the start of a new legislative session. I am especially excited to welcome our new State Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin to the State Capitol! I look forward to working closely together on the issues that are most important to our mutual districts.

Another important development yesterday was a huge shift in the partisan makeup of both chambers. Thanks to our new fair maps, the balance between the two political parties is much more even for the first time in over a decade. In the Assembly Republicans hold 55 seats to Democrats’ 45, and in the Senate Republicans hold 18 seats and Democrats 15. While Republicans still hold the majority in both chambers, I am hopeful that we will see an increase in bipartisan cooperation during this legislative term.

For the 2025-2026 session, I have the honor of returning to the Joint Finance Committee, the Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation Committee, and joining the Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions. Although this term I will no longer serve on the Education Committee, I will have the opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of public education funding as a member of the Joint Finance Committee.