Gov. Phil Murphy has signed legislation creating the New Jersey Innovation Authority (NJIA), a move state officials and business leaders say will strengthen the systems that help New Jersey companies start, grow, and operate more efficiently.
The new authority, established under legislation A5728/S4485, permanently embeds the state’s Office of Innovation within the Department of the Treasury. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to codify a government innovation office into law.
Cementing Tech Beyond His Administration
Murphy said the change ensures that technology-driven service improvements continue beyond his administration, benefiting residents and the business community alike.
“Our Office of Innovation has made remarkable strides,” Murphy said, pointing to work that has streamlined state processes and advanced responsible use of artificial intelligence. He said the new authority will continue developing “solutions to real-world problems” that save businesses and residents time and money.
Office of Innovation Milestones
Since its launch in 2018, the Office of Innovation (OOI) has become a national model for modernizing government services, including helping more than 65,000 entrepreneurs launch businesses faster through Business.NJ.gov. State officials estimate those improvements generated $167 million in economic impact in 2024 alone.
The office has also worked with state agencies to modernize more than a dozen call centers, reducing wait times for residents and employers while cutting operational costs. Furthermore, the office redesigned the state’s unemployment insurance application to reduce processing times significantly, a change labor officials say has improved service for workers and employers.
Stability For Planning, Collaborations
Dave Cole, New Jersey’s chief innovation officer (CIO), said formalizing the office as an authority provides stability for long-term planning and cross-agency collaboration. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill said Cole will continue to serve as the state’s CIO and lead the state’s OOI.
She added that in the Sherrill-Caldwell administration, Cole will “continue to build on OOI’s success to modernize services for residents, businesses, and other New Jersey institutions.”
The New Jersey Innovation Authority will be overseen by a 13-member board appointed by the governor, including public members with expertise in digital technology, data science, and service delivery.
“This new structure stands up a model of what we know works: a data-driven, human-centered, and agile approach to improving the critical services that support our residents and grow our economy,” Cole said.
Real-World Outcomes Across Agencies
Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey’s chief AI strategist and the state’s first chief innovation officer, said the office’s focus on real-world outcomes has helped position New Jersey as a leader in service delivery and responsible innovation.
“Its focus on building alongside the public has helped position New Jersey as a leader,” Noveck said, adding that the authority ensures that work can be sustained and expanded.
State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio said the authority will help agencies continue modernizing systems that businesses rely on, including business registration, tax payments, and customer service infrastructure.
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said the Office of Innovation has been a key partner in improving the unemployment insurance system and in responsibly using AI to serve workers and employers better.
Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said the authority will also support efforts to protect access to essential programs such as Medicaid, which help stabilize families and the workforce.
Boosts State’s Competitiveness, Economic Development
Legislative leaders said the move strengthens New Jersey’s competitiveness. Sen. Andrew Zwicker said codifying the office ensures innovation efforts continue under future administrations, while Sen. Angela McKnight said the authority reinforces the state’s commitment to equitable access to services.
Assembly members echoed the focus on economic development. Chris Tully said the authority lays the groundwork for long-term growth through technology investment, while Pintor Marin said it will help modernize outdated systems and improve accessibility.
Assemblyman Bill Moen said the change will bolster the office’s impact on startups and emerging companies.
Why This Matters to Meadowlands Businesses
For companies operating in the Meadowlands — spanning logistics and construction, healthcare and professional services, entertainment, sports, hospitality, tourism, and more — the NJIA signals continued investment in faster, more reliable government services that directly affect daily operations.
Faster business startup and expansion. Improvements to Business.NJ.gov have already helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs launch faster. For Meadowlands businesses, that means fewer delays when opening, expanding, or navigating state requirements tied to licensing, permitting, and compliance.
More efficient workforce services. Modernized unemployment insurance systems and call centers reduce friction for both employers and workers. Faster claims processing and clearer communication help stabilize the workforce in high-volume sectors such as hospitality, retail, events, and logistics — all core Meadowlands industries.
Reduced administrative burden. Human-centered, digital-first service design shortens application times and improves access to state programs, saving businesses time and money while lowering back-and-forth with agencies.
Smarter use of technology and AI. The Authority formalizes New Jersey’s approach to the responsible use of AI and emerging technologies in government. For businesses, this translates into more predictable, transparent, and efficient interactions with the state—especially as digital tools become standard across agencies.
Long-term stability across administrations. By codifying the Office of Innovation into law, the state is signaling that service modernization is a long-term priority. That stability helps businesses plan with confidence, knowing key digital systems and services are designed to improve — not reset — over time.
About The OOI
The OOI has become widely recognized as a national model and recently released its second annual Impact Report, which highlighted achievements including:
- Helping over 65,000 entrepreneurs launch their businesses more quickly through Business.NJ.Gov, boosting the economy by an estimated $167 million in 2024 alone;
- Modernizing more than a dozen State call centers to help millions of residents get their questions answered in a timely manner, reducing wait times, and saving New Jersey millions of dollars in operational costs;
- Using data science to enroll 100,000 additional children in the Summer EBT Program that connects vulnerable students with nutritious food;
- Reducing the average time to apply for Unemployment Insurance by more than three hours using a redesigned online application process that resulted in a 40% increase in positive site feedback; and,
- Harnessing emerging technologies, including AI, to modernize State operations and deliver benefits and services more quickly and efficiently to New Jerseyans.
- Under the NJIA, the Office of Innovation’s world-class talent in technology, engineering, data, design and policy will continue to incorporate agile software development, human-centered design principles, and data-driven processes to improve service design and delivery.
