Britnee Timberlake facts for kids

Britnee N. Timberlake (born May 14, 1986) is an American politician from the Democratic Party. She is also a community helper and a leader of non-profit groups. Since January 2024, she has been a state senator for New Jersey's 34th Legislative District. She became the youngest state senator in New Jersey at that time.

Before becoming a senator, Britnee Timberlake served in the New Jersey General Assembly. She represented the 34th District from 2018 to 2024. She also led the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. She was the only African-American woman to lead a freeholder board in the state.

Britnee Timberlake's Early Life and School

Britnee Timberlake's father, Philip Timberlake, was a sergeant in the US Army. Her mother, Cathy Walsh Timberlake, taught students with special needs.

Britnee went to Seton Hall University. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science. She also got a master's degree in public administration. This education helped her prepare for a career in public service.

Starting Her Career

In 2010, Britnee Timberlake worked for AmeriCorps in Union County, New Jersey. AmeriCorps is a program where people serve their communities. She helped people find jobs and improve their skills. This included writing resumes and getting their GEDs.

In 2012, she became the housing chair for the Montclair branch of the NAACP. The NAACP is a civil rights organization. She worked to create more affordable housing options in Montclair. Before this, affordable homes were mostly in one area.

In 2011, Britnee co-founded the Essex Community Land Trust (ECLT). She became its Executive Director. This non-profit group helps families find homes they can afford. It also helps them learn about managing money. The ECLT is the only active affordable housing land trust in New Jersey. She helped the group grow and raise over $2 million for housing. They have helped create or improve many affordable homes.

Early Political Work

In 2014, Britnee Timberlake was elected to the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Freeholders are like county council members. They help run the county government. In January 2015, she was chosen to be the board's president. She was the youngest freeholder in the county's history. She was also the only African-American woman to lead a freeholder board in New Jersey. At that time, Essex County had a budget of over $700 million.

As Freeholder President, Britnee Timberlake helped create important laws:

• She wrote a law to help businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans get more county contracts. This helped create more economic chances for them.
• She made a law requiring banks that work with the county to show how they help communities. This included reducing home foreclosures and giving loans to small businesses.
• She started the Essex County Clean Jobs Initiative. This program trained people for jobs in cleaning up environmental hazards like lead and asbestos.
• She 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. This meant she wanted the lowest pay per hour to be $15. She later helped make this a state law when she joined the General Assembly.

Serving in the New Jersey General Assembly

In 2017, Sheila Oliver won two elections: one for the Assembly and one for Lieutenant Governor. She could not hold both jobs. So, she resigned from her Assembly seat. On January 29, 2018, Britnee Timberlake was sworn in to take Oliver's place. Oliver was also from East Orange and was the first African-American woman to lead the General Assembly.

During her time in the Assembly, Britnee Timberlake worked on many important issues:

• She was a main author of the $15 minimum wage bill, which became law in 2019.
• She introduced the Fair Work Week Act. This bill aimed to give shift workers more consistent schedules. It would help them have enough rest and time with their families.
• In 2019, a bill she sponsored became law. This law requires the New Jersey Attorney General to investigate when someone dies during an interaction with police. Many groups supported this law, including the American Civil Liberties Union.
• She has also spoken out for stronger gun control. In 2018, she called for a ban on selling certain toy guns. This was in response to the death of Tamir Rice, a boy who was killed while holding a toy gun. This bill became law in 2020.
• She worked to improve health for mothers and babies. She supported bills to help women of color, who often face more health problems. These bills included requiring hospitals to ask about pregnancy history and covering breastfeeding support.
• In 2020, she sponsored a bill about environmental permits. This law requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to consider how new factories or waste plants might affect communities that are already struggling. This bill became law in 2021.
• She also supported putting $46.5 million back into the state’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This fund helps families find affordable homes.

Becoming a New Jersey Senator

After new district maps were drawn in 2021, the 34th District changed. It no longer had an existing state senator. In 2023, Britnee Timberlake announced she would run for State Senator in this new District 34.

She won the election against her Republican opponent, Joseph Belnome.

Senate Committees

For the 2024-2025 Legislative Session, Britnee Timberlake serves on 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. For the 2024-2025 session, the representatives for the 34th District are:

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

Work Outside of Politics

In 2023, Britnee Timberlake became the Chief Community Development Officer at a credit union. In this role, she helps create banking products that support communities. Her goal is to help close the wealth gap between different groups of people.

Helping People Around the World

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

Britnee Timberlake's Personal Life

Britnee Timberlake lives in East Orange, New Jersey. She is married to Dimitri Charles, who is a firefighter and a small business owner. They have three sons together. She also has two older sons, making a blended family. Britnee was nine months 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 these include:

• Being the first person inducted into the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey’s Hall of Heroes. This was for her work to restore money to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
• The “Legislator of the Year Award” from NJ Citizen's Action.
• The “Community Leadership Award” from H.A.N.D.S.
• The “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.
• The “Amiga Award” from LUPE Fund, Inc.
• The “Presidential Award for Leadership” from the NJ State African American Chamber of Commerce.
• The “Breaking Glass Ceilings Award” from New Leaders Council.
• The “United Nations-UNESCO School-Based Initiative Young CEOs Award”.
• The “Power of Dreams Award” from actor Danny Glover.
• The “Donald Payne, Sr. Award” from the Montclair NAACP.
• The “Coretta Scott King Award” for community service from Essex County.