The New Jersey Legislature’s 222nd session is now underway, and with it comes something that doesn’t happen very often in public life: a genuine reset. New faces, new leadership, new priorities, and a new governor have all combined to give Trenton a noticeably different feel than it had just a short time ago.

 

This new session also comes with some major changes. My responsibilities have expanded, my committee assignments look different, and my role within the Assembly has evolved. Each of these changes brings new opportunities—especially opportunities to make practical, everyday improvements that affect families, schools, and small businesses in ways I didn’t always have the tools to address during my first term.

 

Before getting into the specifics, though, it’s worth stepping back and looking at the broader landscape we’re facing.

 

As most residents know all too well, New Jersey doesn’t suffer from a lack of challenges. The Garden State has the highest property taxes in the nation. The school funding formula is disastrously broken, placing enormous strain on districts across the state—not only in Lakewood, but in towns and cities large and small. Energy prices skyrocketed over the past year and remain stubbornly high. Families feel squeezed from multiple directions, and small businesses often find themselves navigating a maze of regulations and expenses just to stay afloat.

 

None of these issues have quick or easy fixes. Anyone who promises otherwise is probably oversimplifying. It’s still too early to know exactly how these major challenges will play out over the next two years. What I do know, however, is that the committee assignments I received this session give me more opportunities than ever to be part of the solution.

 

To understand how, it’s worthwhile to review how the Assembly works. As mentioned in the previous “Eye on Trenton” column, when a bill is introduced, it doesn’t go directly for a vote. Instead, it’s assigned to one of 22 specialized committees—Education, Health, Agriculture, Transportation, and so on. These committees are where most of the work happens. They hold hearings, debate proposals, amend legislation, and decide which bills to move forward.

 

In many ways, committees are the gatekeepers of the legislative process. And committee chairs, in particular, hold tremendous influence. If a chairman never schedules a bill for a hearing, that bill is effectively frozen. No matter how popular it may be with the public, it simply goes nowhere.

 

For this legislative session, I was appointed to chair the Assembly Oversight, Reform, and Federal Relations Committee. This committee serves as one of the Legislature’s main watchdog bodies, with a wide-ranging mandate that touches on three core areas.

 

First is government efficiency. The committee reviews legislation aimed at reducing bureaucracy and streamlining how state government operates. In real life, it affects everything from DMV lines to licensing delays to slow-moving permit approvals.

 

For families, small businesses, nonprofits, and professional practices, red tape means lost income, wasted time, and unnecessary stress. When systems aren’t working as they should, this committee has the authority to examine what’s going wrong and push for practical fixes.

 

Second is legislative oversight. This is where the committee ensures that the Executive Branch is carrying out the laws the Legislature passes in the way they were intended. When a program isn’t delivering results, when funds aren’t being used efficiently, or when policies aren’t being implemented properly, this committee has the tools to demand answers.

 

Third is federal relations. The committee serves as a bridge between New Jersey and Washington. It handles petitions to Congress, monitors federal regulations that affect our state, and works on issues where federal and state policy intersect.

 

In today’s environment, where so many decisions are made at the national level, that connection is increasingly important.

 

As chairman, I set the committee’s agenda, decide which bills get hearings, and initiate reviews of state agencies. I can bring issues to the table that might otherwise be overlooked.

 

In addition to chairing Oversight, I was appointed to serve on the Assembly Budget Committee. This is where the state’s priorities are translated into dollars and cents. New Jersey’s budget—currently totaling about $58 billion—must pass through this committee before reaching the full Assembly. Every department, agency, and program comes before this committee to justify its funding.

 

It’s intense. Budget season means long hearings and late nights. But it’s also where the most consequential decisions are made.

 

Having a seat on this committee creates real opportunities for our kehillah. It allows me to advocate for fair school funding, push for property tax relief, protect vital programs, and question wasteful spending that drives up costs for everyone. It’s tough work, but it’s worth it.

 

I was also appointed to the Insurance and Banking Committee, which deals with…you guessed it, insurance and banking. It’s not as exciting as some other committees, but insurance and banking affect daily life in countless ways. Car insurance premiums, homeowners’ coverage, medical billing, bank fees, credit protections, and so on are issues that affect every household in one way or another.

 

Lastly, I was appointed Deputy Whip of the Democratic caucus. The term “whip” comes from the idea of “whipping up” votes. In practice, it means helping leadership understand where members stand on legislation, explaining bills to colleagues, answering questions, and building consensus.

 

A lot of the role involves building relationships and trust. It also allows me to serve as a bridge between different parts of the caucus. It reflects confidence from leadership and, most importantly, gives me a stronger voice when advocating for our community’s priorities.

 

None of these appointments guarantee easy victories. Trenton is full of competing interests, strong personalities, and deeply held opinions. Progress often comes in small, incremental steps. Compromise is unavoidable, and frustration is part of the job.

 

But what these new roles do provide is access and a seat at tables where decisions are made. They create opportunities that weren’t available to me in my first term.

 

The work ahead won’t be easy. But with siyata d’Shmaya, patience, and persistence, I’m optimistic that it will be productive.