Establishes Regulatory Improvement Commission.
This bill establishes a temporary, independent “Regulatory Improvement Commission” within, but not under the control of, the Department of State. The commission would have nine members appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, with a chairperson expected to have expertise in rulemaking and regulatory review. It must hold public meetings, solicit recommendations from the public, businesses, state agencies, and other interested parties, and conduct outreach and focus groups while reviewing state regulations.
The commission’s core task is to evaluate New Jersey regulations and recommend which rules should be modified, consolidated, or repealed. In doing so, it must prioritize regulations that impose high costs on small businesses, create heavy paperwork burdens, or could be made more effective at lower regulatory cost. Its stated goal is to reduce compliance costs, encourage growth and innovation, and improve competitiveness while still protecting public health and safety. The commission must issue a final report to the Governor and Legislature within 365 days of its first meeting, and it expires 30 days after submitting that report.
The bill does not directly amend or repeal any existing regulatory statute; instead, it creates a new advisory commission process that could lead to future changes in state regulations. It would require the Department of State to provide staff support and would obligate state departments and agencies to cooperate by supplying data, personnel, and assistance. The commission’s recommendations could affect a broad range of regulated parties, especially small businesses, industries facing paperwork burdens, and agencies responsible for administering state rules.
The bill’s framing suggests generally pro-reform sentiment, emphasizing regulatory streamlining, economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of opposition or support from legislators in the available record. The bill’s language also reflects an effort to balance deregulation concerns with continued protection of public health and safety, which may be intended to broaden appeal.
The main potential point of contention is the tradeoff between reducing regulatory burdens and preserving protections for workers, consumers, communities, and the environment. The bill explicitly invites participation from professional, labor, community, environmental, and business stakeholders, indicating that these groups may have differing views on which regulations should be changed or eliminated. Another likely issue is the commission’s independence and composition, since it is heavily appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders and is tasked with recommending changes to rules that may be politically sensitive.