Requires Division of Consumer Affairs to hire staff to alleviate professional license application backlog; appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029.
This bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to hire additional staff to reduce backlogs in processing professional license applications and renewals. It appropriates $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2028 specifically for this purpose, directly affecting license applicants and regulated professions like healthcare, engineering, and contracting. The Division must report yearly on staffing changes, backlog reductions, and spending details to the Governor and Legislature. This funding aims to improve efficiency in license processing, supporting economic development and consumer protection as stated in the bill.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Last action Feb 12, 2026
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What changed between versions
Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill
→
Introduced
·
3 edits
·
Jan 13, 2026
MINOR
The bill's funding timeline was moved one year earlier, shifting the $10 million annual appropriation from fiscal years 2027-2029 to fiscal years 2026-2028. This means the Division of Consumer Affairs can begin hiring additional staff to address the professional license application backlog a full year sooner than originally proposed. A new statement section was also added providing background context on the backlog and prior fund transfer issues.
FISCAL
The $10,000,000 annual appropriation from the General Fund to the Division of Consumer Affairs was shifted one year earlier, now covering fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028 instead of 2027, 2028, and 2029.
TIMELINE
The bill's expiration date was moved up by one year, now tied to the fiscal year 2028 report rather than the fiscal year 2029 report.
TECHNICAL
A new STATEMENT section was added at the end of the bill providing legislative context about the license application backlog, prior fund transfer language in appropriations acts since FY2016, and the purpose of the appropriation.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 12, 2026
Committee
Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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