New Jersey Assembly convenes commemorative session at Princeton; AR 250 passes 67–0

The New Jersey General Assembly convened a special commemorative session at Nassau Hall, Princeton University, on Feb. 5, 2026, to mark the 250th anniversary of the state’s first legislature.

Assembly members passed Assembly Resolution 250 on third reading, sending an official motion to hold a special commemorative session at Princeton on Feb. 5, 2026. Majority Leader Louis Greenwald moved the resolution; the roll-call clerk reported 67 votes in the affirmative and 0 opposed, and the presiding officer declared the resolution adopted.

The vote was the centerpiece of a largely ceremonial program honoring the state’s colonial-era origins and Princeton’s historical ties to state government. “We are honored to host the New Jersey Legislature today to commemorate the 200 and fiftieth anniversary of that first gathering,” Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber said in welcoming remarks.

Why it matters: AR 250 formalizes a special session at Princeton as part of broader, state-sanctioned commemorations of the 250th anniversary. While the resolution is ceremonial and does not create new policy or funding, it schedules a high-profile event that the legislature and state partners will use to showcase exhibits, programming and partnerships tied to the semiquincentennial.

Votes at a glance:
- Assembly Resolution AR 250 (special commemorative session at Princeton University, date specified as 02/05/2026): roll-call vote reported as 67 yes, 0 no; outcome: passed.
- Assembly resolution commemorating the 280th anniversary of the founding of Princeton University: adopted by voice vote; outcome: passed (tally not specified).
- Assembly resolution honoring the New Jersey National Guard: adopted by voice vote; outcome: passed (tally not specified). Adjutant General Yvonne Mays was noted as a recipient.
- Assembly resolution honoring the history and service of USS New Jersey / Battleship New Jersey: adopted by voice vote; outcome: passed (tally not specified). Recipients included Captain Steve Hawley and Juliana Dodds of the Battleship New Jersey museum.
- Multiple additional resolutions marking New Jersey’s Revolutionary-era history and commemorative programs were presented and adopted by voice vote during the session.

What happened during the session: The program included an invocation delivered by Reverend Theresa Tims, a welcome from Princeton’s president, remarks from the U.K. Consul General, a historical overview by the State Archives and a summary of statewide commemorative programming (Revolution NJ). The assembly dispensed with routine business such as reading the minutes before moving to the commemorative resolutions.

What’s next: The resolution establishes the special session as a formal, scheduled commemoration; participating offices and partners indicated they will coordinate exhibits and programming tied to the date. No funding, regulatory changes, or legal directives were adopted during this ceremonial session.

The session concluded with the presiding officer thanking Princeton’s hosts and guests and a motion—ceremonial in tone—to reconvene for the semiquincentennial in the future.