S 4485 New Jersey Senate · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Establishes New Jersey Innovation Authority.

This bill establishes the New Jersey Innovation Authority, a new state agency within the Department of the Treasury, to lead technology innovation across state government. The authority will consist of 13 members, including nine public members with expertise in digital technology, data science, and public engagement, and will be led by a Chief Innovation Officer appointed by the Governor initially and then by the authority. The authority's key responsibilities include advising state agencies on modernizing government services, developing metrics to measure innovation progress, and preparing annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. It will have the authority to contract directly with technology providers without standard public bidding requirements under certain circumstances and can transfer funds to nonprofit organizations like the National Center for Civic Innovation to support its work.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced May 19, 2025 Last action Dec 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Reprint SEG 6/12/25 1R → Reprint SBA 12/15/25 2R · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill moved from the Senate Economic Growth Committee to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, where it received amendments primarily clarifying the appointment structure for the New Jersey Innovation Authority's nine public board members. The most significant change formalizes that five members are appointed directly by the Governor, two on the Speaker's recommendation, and two on the President of the Senate's recommendation, and adjusts the initial staggered terms from three-three-three to two-two-one. A minor addition gives the Chief Innovation Officer explicit authority to determine 'services' for hired personnel.

ELIGIBILITY

The appointment structure for the nine public board members was formalized: five are appointed directly by the Governor, two by the Governor upon recommendation of the Speaker of the General Assembly, and two by the Governor upon recommendation of the President of the Senate. The first reprint simply stated all nine were 'appointed by the Governor' without specifying the legislative recommendation roles.

REQUIREMENT

Initial staggered terms for directly appointed public members changed from three serving five years, three serving four years, and three serving three years (3/3/3) to two serving five years, two serving four years, and one serving three years (2/2/1). This aligns the stagger with the reduced number of Governor-directly-appointed members.

The Chief Innovation Officer's authority over hired personnel now explicitly includes determining 'services' in addition to qualifications, terms of office, duties, and compensation.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

upper

Jun 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee

upper

Jun 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading

upper

May 19, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor