NJBIA is supporting a bill today that aims to improve the turnaround time for public license applications needed to enter the workforce through the establishment of a public online portal.

The portal would make clear the number of applications, any processing delays and other data sets.

Bill A-5624 (Stanley, D-18) is scheduled for a vote in the Assembly Appropriations Committee today.

“There is a need to bring greater transparency to the challenges many professionals and businesses are having obtaining licenses,” NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Althea D. Ford said. “Processing backlogs often prevent job creators from filling key positions and ultimately stifle economic growth in New Jersey.

“As we know that this data is already being collected, allowing it to be public helps better inform the state's workforce development pipeline challenges and determine steps that can be taken to alleviate backlogs.”

New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has explicitly made cutting red tape and reducing licensing wait times part of her government efficiency agenda, promising to cut professional and business license approval wait times in half and overhaul outdated systems across state government.

The bill previously advanced in the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee in May.

The Senate version of the bill, S-4581 (Lagana, D-38) advanced in the Senate Commerce Committee on Nov. 17.