Britnee Timberlake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Britnee Timberlake
Timberlake in 2020
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 34th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2024
Preceded by	Nia Gill
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 34th district
In office January 29, 2018 – January 9, 2024 Serving with Thomas P. Giblin
Preceded by	Sheila Oliver
Succeeded by	Carmen Morales Michael Venezia
Personal details
Born	(1986-05-14) May 14, 1986 (age 39)
Political party	Democratic
Education	Seton Hall University (BA, MPA)

Britnee N. Timberlake was born on May 14, 1986. She is an American politician from the Democratic Party. She is also a community helper and works with non-profit groups. Since January 2024, she has been a state senator for New Jersey's 34th Legislative District. When she became a senator, she was the youngest person to hold that job in New Jersey. Before becoming a senator, Britnee Timberlake served in the New Jersey General Assembly for the same district. She started there on January 29, 2018. Before that, she was the leader of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. At that time, she was the only African-American woman leading a freeholder board in the state.

Britnee Timberlake's Early Life and School

Britnee Timberlake's father, Philip Timberlake, was a sergeant in the U.S. Army. Her mother, Cathy Walsh Timberlake, was a teacher who worked with people who had mental and physical challenges.

Britnee Timberlake went to Seton Hall University. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science. Later, she also earned a master's degree in public administration.

Britnee Timberlake's First Jobs and Community Work

In 2010, Britnee Timberlake worked with AmeriCorps in Union County, New Jersey. She helped people find jobs and improve their skills. She also helped with resume writing and programs to help people get their GED.

In 2012, she became the housing chair for the Montclair NAACP. She worked with her team to create more affordable housing options in Montclair. Before this, affordable housing was mostly found in one area of the town.

In 2011, Britnee Timberlake helped start the Essex Community Land Trust (ECLT). This is a non-profit group that helps families find homes they can afford. It is the only active affordable housing community land trust in New Jersey. She became the Executive Director of this organization.

Helping Families Find Affordable Homes

With only a small amount of starting money, Britnee Timberlake built the ECLT from the ground up. She helped the organization grow its housing projects and partnerships. The group has raised over $2,000,000 to help people with housing. They have also helped make sure over 50 homes in Montclair stay affordable. The ECLT has also worked on creating and fixing 13 homes.

Britnee Timberlake's Start in Politics

In 2014, Britnee Timberlake was elected to represent District 3 on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. In January 2015, she was chosen to be the board's president. She was the youngest freeholder in the county's current system. When she became president, she was the only African American woman leading a freeholder board in New Jersey. At that time, Essex County had a budget of over $700 million.

Laws and Programs She Helped Create

As Freeholder President, Britnee Timberlake wrote a law to help businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans. This law made it easier for these businesses to get county contracts. She also created a law that required banks working with the county to show how they help reduce foreclosures. Banks also had to show how they help small businesses and low-income communities.

She also started the Essex County Clean Jobs Initiative. This program trained and placed unemployed people in jobs that cleaned up environmental hazards. Britnee Timberlake also pushed for the Sheriff’s Department to get body cameras for all officers.

She was the first elected official in New Jersey to pass a resolution supporting a $15 minimum wage. Later, she helped write this law when she became a state assembly person.

Britnee Timberlake in the New Jersey General Assembly

In January 2018, Britnee Timberlake was sworn into the New Jersey General Assembly. She took the place of Sheila Oliver, who became the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey. Britnee Timberlake was the only African American woman serving as a freeholder director in the state at that time.

Important Laws and Actions in the Assembly

• Minimum Wage Law: Britnee Timberlake was a main author of the $15 minimum wage bill. This bill became a law in 2019.
• Fair Work Week Act: She introduced a bill to help shift workers get enough rest between shifts. This bill also aimed to give workers more consistent schedules. This helps them have time for family, rest, and school.
• Police Investigations: In January 2019, a bill she sponsored became law. This law requires the New Jersey Attorney General to investigate deaths that happen during interactions with law enforcement. Many groups supported this law.
• Gun Control: Britnee Timberlake has spoken out for stronger gun control. In 2018, she asked for a ban on selling certain toy guns. This was in response to the death of Tamir Rice, a young person who was killed while holding a toy gun. This bill became law in January 2020.
• Maternal and Infant Health: She worked to improve health for mothers and babies, especially for women of color. She supported bills that required hospitals to ask about pregnancy history. She also supported bills for health insurance to cover fertility services and breastfeeding support. Another bill she supported required screening newborns for certain health conditions.
• Environmental Justice: In 2020, she sponsored a bill about environmental permits. This bill requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to consider how new facilities might affect communities. This is especially for "overburdened" communities. These are areas with many low-income residents or minority residents. This bill became law in 2021.
• Affordable Housing Funds: She also supported a plan to put $46.5 million back into the state’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This fund helps families find affordable homes.

Britnee Timberlake in the New Jersey Senate

After new district maps were drawn in 2021, the 34th District changed. In 2023, Britnee Timberlake announced she would run to be the State Senator for this new District 34.

She won against her Republican opponent, Joseph Belnome, in the 2023 New Jersey Senate election.

Senate Committees

For the 2024—2025 Legislative Session, Senator Timberlake is part of these committees:

• Economic Growth
• Transportation

District 34 Representatives

Each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts has one State Senator and two members in the General Assembly. The representatives for the 34th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:

• Senator Britnee Timberlake (D)
• Assemblyman Carmen Morales (D)
• Assemblyman Michael Venezia (D)

Britnee Timberlake's Work Outside of Politics

In 2023, Britnee Timberlake became the Chief Community Development Officer at a credit union. In this role, she creates banking products that help close the wealth gap between different groups of people.

International and Humanitarian Work

Britnee Timberlake has hosted several groups from West Africa. In 2007, she did missionary work in Jamaica. She also works with groups like Embrace Relief and Sandji CDC to help countries that need water and transportation.

Britnee Timberlake's Personal Life

Britnee Timberlake lives in East Orange, New Jersey. She is married to Dimitri Charles, who is a firefighter in Newark and a small business owner. Britnee and Dimitri have three sons together. She also has two older sons, making it a blended family. Britnee Timberlake was pregnant with her first child when she was sworn into the Assembly.

Awards and Recognition

Britnee Timberlake has received many awards for her public service. Some of them include:

• The first person to be added to the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey’s Hall of Heroes. This was for her work to restore $15 million to the State’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
• “Legislator of the Year Award” from NJ Citizen's Action.
• “Community Leadership Award” from H.A.N.D.S (Housing & Neighborhood Development Services, Inc.).
• “Community Development Champion Award” from the Housing & Community Development Network of NJ.
• A 2013 Resolution from the NJ General Assembly for her leadership in housing non-profits.
• “Amiga Award” from LUPE Fund, Inc.
• “Presidential Award for Leadership” from the NJ State African American Chamber of Commerce.
• “Breaking Glass Ceilings Award” from New Leaders Council.
• “United Nations-UNESCO School-Based Initiative Young CEOs Award”.
• “Power of Dreams Award” from Danny Glover.
• “Donald Payne, Sr. Award” from the Montclair NAACP.
• “Coretta Scott King Award” for community service from Essex County’s County Executive.