Sponsored by:
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Senator JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblywoman ROSAURA "ROSY" BAGOLIE
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblywoman ALIXON COLLAZOS-GILL
District 27 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Diegnan and Assemblywoman Hall
SYNOPSIS
Designates State House Complex Welcome Center as “Governor Richard J. Codey Welcome Center.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating the State House Complex Welcome Center as the “Governor Richard J. Codey Welcome Center” and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Whereas, The New Jersey State House Complex has a Welcome Center wherein all visitors to the State House and State House Annex are invited and welcomed; and
Whereas, It is entirely appropriate that the State House Complex Welcome Center should be named in honor of Governor Richard J. Codey who served as a member of the General Assembly, the Senate, and as New Jersey’s 53rd Governor; and
Whereas, Governor Codey is New Jersey’s longest serving legislator, having been elected to the General Assembly in November of 1973 at just 27 years of age; and
Whereas, After serving for nearly a decade in the General Assembly, Governor Codey served in the Senate from 1982 to 2024 and held the highly esteemed position of Senate President from 2002 to 2010; and
Whereas, During his tenure as Senate President, Governor Codey served as Acting Governor on multiple occasions and as New Jersey’s 53rd Governor for 14 months after the resignation of Governor James E. McGreevey in 2004, before returning to the Senate; and
Whereas, Throughout his time as Acting Governor and in the Legislature, Governor Codey was a strong advocate of strengthening public health in many aspects; and
Whereas, Governor Codey’s health system improvement efforts include increasing funding for mental health care, championing stem cell research, establishing the State’s charity care program, leading a ban on indoor smoking in all State buildings, and establishing a prescription drug assistance program for seniors; and
Whereas, Governor Codey made strides in protecting the health of the youth of New Jersey by increasing the age to legally purchase tobacco to 21 and initiating drug and steroid testing for high school athletes in New Jersey; and
Whereas, Governor Codey fought to make communities safer by pushing for higher gun control standards, establishing GPS tracking for sex offenders, and authoring laws aimed at cracking down on internet predators; and
Whereas, Outside of Governor Codey’s public service, he has been an active and beloved member of his community, coaching youth basketball teams, mentoring first-generation college students, and working as a funeral director; and
Whereas, After a long career faithfully serving the residents of this State, Governor Codey retired from public service in January of 2024; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper that the State of New Jersey recognize and honor Governor Codey’s service and contributions by designating the State House Complex Welcome Center as the “Governor Richard J. Codey Welcome Center”; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The State Capitol Joint Management Commission shall designate the State House Complex Welcome Center as the “Governor Richard J. Codey Welcome Center.” The commission shall erect appropriate signs bearing that designation.
2. The State Capitol Joint Management Commission is authorized to accept public and private gifts, donations, and grants for the purpose of funding the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the State Capitol Joint Management Commission to designate the State House Complex Welcome Center as the “Governor Richard J. Codey Welcome Center” in honor of the distinguished services performed by Governor Codey during his career in public service.
Governor Codey became New Jersey’s longest serving legislator after being elected to the General Assembly in November of 1973 at just 27 years of age. After serving for nearly a decade in the General Assembly, Governor Codey served in the Senate from 1982 to 2024 and held the highly esteemed position of Senate President from 2002 to 2010. During his tenure as Senate President, Governor Codey served as Acting Governor on multiple occasions and as New Jersey’s 53rd governor for 14 months after the resignation of Governor James E. McGreevey in 2004, before returning to the Senate.
Throughout his time as Acting Governor and in the Legislature, Governor Codey was a strong advocate of strengthening public health in many aspects. Governor Codey’s health system improvement efforts include increasing funding for mental health care, championing stem cell research, establishing the State’s charity care program, leading a ban on indoor smoking in all State buildings, and establishing a prescription drug assistance program for seniors. Governor Codey made strides in protecting the health of the youth of New Jersey by increasing the age to legally purchase tobacco to 21 and initiating drug and steroid testing for high school athletes in New Jersey. Governor Codey fought to make communities safer by pushing for higher gun control standards, establishing GPS tracking for sex offenders, and authoring laws aimed at cracking down on internet predators.
Outside of Governor Codey’s public service, he has been an active and beloved member of his community, coaching youth basketball teams, mentoring first-generation college students, and working as a funeral director. After a long career faithfully serving the residents of this State, Governor Codey retired from public service in January of 2024.
The State Capitol Joint Management Commission will erect appropriate signs bearing the new welcome center designation. The commission is authorized to accept public and private gifts, donations, and grants for the purpose of funding the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting the signs.