Holly T. Schepisi is a Republican member of the New Jersey Senate representing the 39th Legislative District, which encompasses 28 municipalities in Bergen County. The district's most populous communities include Mahwah, Westwood, Dumont, Oakland, Ramsey, and Washington Township. Schepisi assumed office on March 25, 2021, succeeding the late Senator Gerald Cardinale, and was elected to a full term in November 2023.
Born in Englewood on December 20, 1971, Schepisi earned bachelor's degrees in politics and psychology from The Catholic University of America in 1993 and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in 1997. Her career spans corporate law, land use, real estate, and healthcare administration. She started her own firm, Schepisi Consulting & Law, LLC, and served as special counsel at Huntington Bailey LLP where she practiced governmental, corporate, and land use law. She also served as Vice President of Holy Name Medical Center and President of its Foundation.
Schepisi's public service began in municipal government. She served as township attorney for River Vale from 2007 to 2011, public defender for the Borough of Oakland from 2012 to 2014, and counsel to the Park Ridge Board of Public Utilities. She was sworn into the New Jersey General Assembly on January 10, 2012, and served nearly a decade before moving to the Senate. In the legislature she has focused on school funding reform, healthcare access, public safety, and opposition to state mandates she argues disproportionately burden suburban taxpayers.
Political Career
Township Attorney, River Vale (2007–2011)
Public Defender, Borough of Oakland (2012–2014)
New Jersey General Assembly, District 39 (2012–2021)
Deputy Minority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly (2020–2021)
New Jersey State Senate, District 39 (2021–present)
Republican Conference Leader, New Jersey State Senate (2021–present)
Key Policy Areas
School funding formula and property tax relief
Healthcare access and senior services
Public safety and law enforcement policy
Land use and municipal governance
Organized retail crime prevention
Economic development and small business support
Notable Actions / Initiatives
Succeeded 12-term Senator Gerald Cardinale in March 2021 following his death in office, winning a Republican convention vote and subsequent election to complete the term.
Sponsored bipartisan legislation targeting organized retail crime and signed legislation streamlining healthcare referrals for oncology patients to in-house pharmacies.
Introduced legislation to reform the state's school funding formula, arguing it disproportionately burdens District 39 communities and drives property tax increases.
Served as Vice President of Holy Name Medical Center and President of its Foundation before returning to full-time legal practice.
Suffered a brain aneurysm in March 2015, underwent surgery that summer, and returned to legislative duties.
Education
B.A., Politics and Psychology, The Catholic University of America (1993)
J.D., Fordham University School of Law (1997)
Personal
