Coughlin taps five sophomore legislators for committee chairs

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin has formed two new standing committees and named six new committee chairs for the current legislative session, which has Democrats with a 57-23 majority, their highest number since Watergate.

Coughlin created the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which will be chaired by sophomore Andrea Katz (D-Chesterfield), and the Health Infrastructure Committee, where Sterley Stanley (D-East Brunswick) will be the chairman.

Daniel Hutchison (D-Gloucester Township) will replace Stanley at the helm of the Regulated Professions Committee.

Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood) is the new chairman of the Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee; his predecessor, Reginald Atkins (D-Roselle), was not a candidate for another term in 2025.

Tenille McCoy (D-Hamilton) will chair the Community Development and Women’s Affairs Committee; she replaces Shavonda Sumter (D-Paterson), who did not seek re-election last year.

Carmen Morales (D-Belleville) replaces Linda Carter (D-Plainfield) as chair of the Higher Education Committee; Carter opted to serve in leadership as the Majority Conference Leader.

As expected, Carol Murphy (D-Mount Laurel) will remain chair of the Health Committee, and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) will remain chair of the Education Committee.

Twelve other sophomore lawmakers have been selected by Coughlin to serve as committee vice chairs: Al Abdelaziz (D-Paterson), Regulated Professions; Rosy Bagolie (D-Livingston), Education; Dave Bailey (D-Woodstown), Tourism, Gaming and the Arts; Alixon Collazos-Gill (D-Montclair), Environment and Solid Waste; Margie Donlon (D-Ocean), Health; Mitchelle Drulis (D-Raritan), State and Local Government; Melinda Kane (D-Cherry Hill), Military and Veterans’ Affairs; Heather Simmons (D-Glassboro), Agriculture and Natural Resources; Luanne Peterpaul (D-Long Branch), Judiciary; Balvir Singh (D-Burlington), Science, Innovation and Technology; and Michael Venezia (D-Bloomfield), Financial Institution and Insurance.  Kevin Egan (D-New Brunswick) will serve as vice chair of two committees: Labor and Telecommunications.