The New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) announced on May 4 its support for a series of bills aimed at improving the efficiency of state licensing boards, which would help thousands of professionals obtain necessary licenses more quickly.
The issue is significant as workforce shortages persist in many industries, making timely access to professional licenses crucial for both workers and consumers. The NJBIA said these legislative changes could help address ongoing operational challenges that have been raised by business groups since 2022.
Bills A-3389, A-3390, and A-3577 were advanced by the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee. These bills seek to ensure that vacancies on licensing boards do not delay license applications, require public access to data on application processing times and consumer complaints, and mandate profession-specific training for staff who handle licensing matters. They also propose studying whether intake calls from applicants should be outsourced to entities with relevant expertise. A fourth bill, A-4275, was amended in committee; instead of creating a statewide tracking system for all permits and licenses, it now focuses on an online dashboard specifically for permitting projects, with responsibility shifted to the New Jersey Innovation Authority.
“With workforce shortages prevalent in many industries, it is important to ensure that the Division of Consumer Affairs is given the tools and infrastructure to operate efficiently and effectively to serve the over 720,000 licensees and the millions of consumers who rely on these professionals,” NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Althea D. Ford said in her written testimony submitted before the hearing. “These bills capture some of the pain points that have been communicated to the previous administration by NJBIA and a coalition of groups representing the licensed community since 2022,” Ford said.
NJBIA Chief Government Affairs Officer Christopher Emigholz said NJBIA supported revisions made by lawmakers: “NJBIA supports legislation that makes government more accountable to taxpayers,” Emigholz said. “We are glad to see that the legislative and executive branches collaborating to improve this bill and better effectuate the good work Gov. Mike Sherrill is doing with her Saving Taxpayers Time and Money agenda.” Last week Governor Sherrill announced plans for a pilot Permitting Dashboard set for launch this summer targeting select energy, commercial or multi-family housing projects applying through key state departments.
The New Jersey Business and Industry Association serves as the nation’s largest statewide employer association, representing private-sector employers throughout New Jersey across various sectors according to its official website. Michele Siekerka serves as president and chief executive officer according to NJBIA. The association advances members’ competitive excellence while delivering essential information such as advocacy services according to its website.
By facilitating partnerships among businesses, government entities, and academic institutions according to NJBIA, as well as offering practical information alongside cost-saving benefits as reported by its website, NJBIA aims at supporting business prosperity throughout New Jersey.
