TRENTON – Moments after state Senator Joe Vitale (D-19) entered the big hearing room and deposited himself in a chair alongside state Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-5), he had company.

It was Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3), who crouched over the author of S-4 and apparently fed him some words of encouragement as the committee prepares to hear Vitale’s controversial Horizon bill.

As the lawmakers prepared to consider his legislation, state Senator Jen Beck (R-11) kicked off the Senate Budget Committee hearing, which could go late, according to committee Chairman state Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36). Beck seeks legislation that would prevent the pitting of two 11th District school districts against each other by address an outstanding issue, which is that the federal government does not provide adequate aid.

Tinton Falls and Colts Neck are the two towns in question, and the senator said her legislation would impact other towns outside the district as well.

But the packed room bespoke of an audience curious about the outcome of the Horizon bill.