A bill supported by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) that would establish a public online portal to track professional license status has advanced in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The proposed legislation, Bill A-5624, seeks to increase transparency regarding the processing of professional license applications needed for workforce entry. The portal would display data such as the number of applications and any existing processing delays.
“There is a need to bring greater transparency to the challenges many professionals and businesses are having obtaining licenses,” said Althea D. Ford, NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs. “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.”
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has made reducing bureaucratic obstacles and shortening licensing wait times a priority for her administration. She has pledged to cut approval wait times for professional and business licenses in half and update outdated systems within state government.
The bill previously moved forward in the Assembly Regulated Professions Committee in May. Its Senate counterpart, S-4581, also advanced in the Senate Commerce Committee on November 17.
