New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey AR122: Thomas Mundy Peterson-honor, 1st African American to vote
Status: Passed both chambers, March 24, 2026
Honors Thomas Mundy Peterson for being first African American to vote following ratification of 15th Amendment to US Constitution.
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 19, 2026:
AR122 ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 122 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 222nd LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026 Sponsored by: Assemblyman ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK District 18 (Middlesex) Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN District 19 (Middlesex) Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ District 19 (Middlesex) Co-Sponsored by: Assemblyman Scharfenberger, Assemblywomen Fantasia, Drulis, Assemblyman Kanitra, Assemblywoman Speight, Assemblyman Freiman, Assemblywomen Flynn and Park SYNOPSIS Honors Thomas Mundy Peterson for being first African American to vote following ratification of 15th Amendment to US Constitution. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Assembly Resolution honoring Thomas Mundy Peterson for being the first African American to vote following the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Whereas, Born in Metuchen, New Jersey on October 6, 1824 to a formerly enslaved mother and a free father, Thomas Mundy Peterson later moved to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where at the age of 45, he became the first African American to vote after the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which stipulates that any citizen has the right to vote, regardless of their race, color, or previous condition of servitude; and Whereas, The 15th Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870, when the required three-quarters of states ratified the amendment, although New Jersey was not one of those states; and Whereas, On March 30, 1870, the United States …
Sponsors
- Robert J. Karabinchak (D, 18) · primary sponsor
- Craig J. Coughlin (D, 19) · primary sponsor
- Yvonne Lopez (D, 19) · primary sponsor
- Gerry Scharfenberger (R, 13)
- Dawn Fantasia (R, 24)
- Mitchelle Drulis (D, 16)
- Paul Kanitra (R, 10)
- Shanique Speight (D, 29)
- Roy Freiman (D, 16)
- Victoria A. Flynn (R, 13)
- Ellen J. Park (D, 37)
Latest actions
- : FSS
- : PA FILE (73-0-0)
- : REP 2RA
- : INT 1RA REF ASL
Votes
- 3RDG FINAL PASSAGE - Thomas Mundy Peterson-honor, 1st African American to vote (March 23, 2026): 73 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Assembly State and Local Government Committee: Reported favorably (February 19, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: COMMEMORATIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Common questions
- What is AR122?
- AR122 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Thomas Mundy Peterson-honor, 1st African American to vote.
- What does AR122 do?
- Honors Thomas Mundy Peterson for being first African American to vote following ratification of 15th Amendment to US Constitution.
- What is the status of AR122?
- Passed both chambers as of March 24, 2026. Latest action: FSS (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored AR122?
- Robert J. Karabinchak (D, 18), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for AR122?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AR122
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.