New Jersey has taken a landmark step in modernizing how residents and businesses interact with government by establishing a permanent statewide innovation authority, becoming the first state in the nation to codify its digital innovation infrastructure into law.
Signed by Governor Phil Murphy earlier this week, the new legislation formally creates the New Jersey Innovation Authority, a standalone public entity designed to transform government services through advanced technology, data science, and user-centered digital design. The move permanently embeds what was previously a programmatic innovation office into state statute, ensuring continuity across future administrations and long-term investment in digital modernization.
The authority is positioned within the Department of the Treasury and is governed by a 13-member board appointed by the governor, including professionals with backgrounds in technology, data analytics, and innovation strategy. Day-to-day operations will continue under the leadership of Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole, providing stability and preserving institutional knowledge as the state transitions into the next phase of digital government.
The mission of the authority is centered on making state services easier to access, faster to use, and more responsive to the real-world needs of residents and employers. By applying artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and human-centered design, the authority will oversee technology initiatives that simplify paperwork, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and expand access to benefits and business services.
Since its early inception as an innovation office in 2018, the team now elevated into permanent authority status has already produced substantial statewide impact. Digital tools developed under its direction have streamlined business formation for tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, modernized multiple state call centers, and significantly reduced processing times for unemployment and public benefit applications. These efforts have strengthened economic participation while improving access to critical services for families, workers, and small business owners.
Looking ahead, the authority is preparing to introduce a unified digital identity platform that would allow residents to access multiple state agencies through a single secure account. Additional initiatives are focused on automating benefits enrollment for eligible households, reducing paperwork requirements, and further integrating data systems across departments to improve service coordination.
Beyond modernization, the authority has also been granted the ability to enter into private-sector partnerships, accept philanthropic funding, and potentially license or sell state-developed digital tools to other government entities. These provisions allow the authority to operate with greater financial flexibility and accelerate innovation beyond the constraints of traditional agency structures.
State leaders view the permanent authority as a long-term investment in economic competitiveness, government transparency, and public trust. By insulating the state’s innovation infrastructure from political turnover, New Jersey is positioning itself to remain at the forefront of digital government while continuing to attract businesses, talent, and technology-driven growth.
Ongoing developments in statewide digital policy, emerging technologies, and public-sector modernization can be followed through Sunset Daily’s Technology & Tech coverage, where major initiatives shaping New Jersey’s digital future are continuously monitored.
With the Innovation Authority now enshrined into law, New Jersey is signaling that digital transformation is no longer a pilot program or a temporary strategy, but a permanent foundation of how the state intends to serve its residents and support its economy in the decades ahead.
