The bill, S-1788, would require state departments, agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and authorities that issue permits, licenses, or certifications to create detailed catalogs of the applications they administer. These catalogs would be submitted to the Governor's Office and include descriptions of each application, the legal authority governing it, applicable fees, application methods, and current processing requirements.

"Entrepreneurs and professionals across New Jersey depend on timely approvals from the State to start businesses, create jobs, and keep projects moving," said Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington). "This legislation is about creating transparency and accountability in the permitting and licensing process while ensuring that applicants are not forced to pay the price when government delays slow things down."

Under this bill, the Governor's Office will establish recommended application processing timelines for permits, licenses, and certifications across the New Jersey government. If an application exceeds the recommended timeline, the issuing state entity would be required to refund the full application fee, to the extent permitted by law. Exemptions will be made from issuing refunds if delays are found to be the applicant's fault.

New Jersey currently requires a wide range of registrations, licenses, and certifications administered across multiple state organizations. For example, the Division of Consumer Affairs oversees 51 professional and occupational boards regulating more than 720,000 licensed professionals, while other departments administer specialized permits for activities ranging from waste transportation to agricultural labor management.

Despite recent efforts to modernize application systems, applicants have continued to report significant delays in processing approvals. By requiring comprehensive application catalogs, establishing clear processing expectations, and guaranteeing refunds when timelines are exceeded, the legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability in the permitting and licensing processes.