Committee releases substitute to create New Jersey permitting dashboard after business groups back measure

The committee released a substitute to Assembly Bill 42 75 on a voice roll call, advancing a proposal to create an interactive New Jersey permitting dashboard that tracks the status of permit applications across principal state departments and many state entities. The substitute assigns development responsibility to the New Jersey Innovation Authority and the Office of Information Technology and explicitly excludes permits or credentials for professional occupations established under Title 45.

Kyle Solner, director of government relations with the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, told the committee the measure would help the state compete for life-sciences investment by streamlining permitting. “We are hopeful to see this bill reach the finish line,” Solner said, adding that stakeholders want measurable results to improve competitiveness.

Chris Hemmingholtz, head of government affairs for the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, also voiced support and urged a focused approach. “If you measure it, it happens,” Hemmingholtz said, arguing that a dashboard would make permitting more responsive to applicants and taxpayers. Hemmingholtz cautioned that including licensing under Title 45 would be a larger undertaking and that focusing first on permitting may be more productive.

The substitute directs state agencies to supply data to the dashboard; data submission from municipalities and counties is left to the discretion of the Office of Information Technology and the Innovation Authority. The substitute says the Office of Information Technology will manage the enterprise platform.

The committee made and seconded a motion to release the substitute to Assembly Bill 42 75 and, after roll call as recorded in the transcript, released the substitute for further legislative consideration.

Next steps: the substitute is released from committee and will proceed in the Legislature for further action.