OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ - Amid a steep rise in auto-thefts statewide, Senator Vin Gopal, D-Long Branch, and Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, D-Newark, have partnered on two bills that would strengthen penalties for car thieves and promote prevention efforts across New Jersey.

OCEAN TOWNSHIP, NJ - A bi-partisan group of state lawmakers including Senator Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch), Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro), Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver), and Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese (D-Cliffside Park) introduced legislation this week that would ease the restrictions imposed on the state’s breweries by the New Jersey Division of Alcohol Beverage Control’s new rules.  

TRENTON – In an effort to incentivize the hiring and continued employment of certain individuals in recovery from substance use disorder, the Senate Economic Growth Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senator Jean Stanfield that would establish the “Recovery Tax Credit Program” within the Department of Human Services.

“People who have struggled with addiction have sometimes found difficulty in landing or keeping a job, even in good hiring climates,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth). “When someone is in recovery, they need all the support they can receive, from their families, their communities, and their employers.”

TRENTON – The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senator Jean Stanfield that further supports New Jersey’s military-connected families, specifically by recognizing schools that place emphasis on assisting children of active duty military and helping families to more easily navigate the often difficult educational path for military dependents and spouses.

This bill, S-1800, would create a “Purple Star Schools” Program to annually recognize, as Purple Star Schools, schools that provide for, or have made significant progress to respond to, the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected students encounter during the transition to a new school when the student’s active-duty military parent or guardian is relocated. The bill would also create a working group to develop criteria to be used in the designation of schools as Purple Star Schools.

TRENTON - Senator Vin Gopal’s bill guaranteeing that health insurance providers and Medicaid continue to pay healthcare providers the same amount for virtual healthcare as in-person visits has become law.

TRENTON – In an effort to bring greater awareness to contributions made by Asian Americans, and to better educate students about Asian American culture and thereby attempt to stem anti-Asian racism and violence in society, the Senate Education Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senator Loretta Weinberg to establish a Commission on Asian Heritage within the Department of Education.

TRENTON – Recognizing the vital role that public libraries continue to play in our democracy and their importance as centers of learning and enrichment in our communities, where anyone and everyone can utilize their services, Senator Vin Gopal today reiterated his strong support for newly introduced legislation that appropriates $37,174,636.71 from the “New Jersey Library Construction Fund” to provide grants for construction, reconstruction, development, extension, improvement, and furnishing of New Jersey's public libraries.

Trenton – In an effort to expand the cultural education of New Jersey students, the Senate advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, which would require school districts to provide instruction on history and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) as part of the implementation of New Jersey student learning standards in social studies.

Gopal, Ruiz Honored as Legislators of the Year at New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Legislative and Business Awards Reception

What is legalization of marijuana if people are not allowed to grow the plant themselves at home?

Back in November of 2020, the people of New Jersey overwhelmingly voted in favor of legalizing the possession and use of marijuana, in addition to allowing the cultivation, processing, and sale of retail marijuana.

In a time when everyone is doing all they can to help in any way, local mom and pop and independent pharmacies are no exception. These pharmacies have been eager to help their communities receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and have taken all of the necessary precautions to help administer the shots to their patients, yet the state has not allotted them the vaccines they need throughout this rollout, and has instead prioritized the big-box stores such as CVS, RiteAid, and Walgreens. Why does New Jersey prioritize corporations over mom-and-pop small-businesses, many in areas nowhere near a vaccine site?