On her first day in office, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed Executive Order No. 5, which has been a central part of her “Save You Time and Money” agenda.
The order focuses on modernizing the state’s regulatory processes and reducing government bureaucracy.
Key provisions include:
- Cross-Agency Permitting Team: Establishes a specialized team within the Office of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to coordinate approvals across different state departments and reduce project delays.
- Permitting “Shot Clocks”: Directs state agencies to set specific timeframes for issuing project approvals to ensure reviews are completed predictably and efficiently.
- Permitting Dashboard: Mandates the creation of a public, interactive online portal that allows applicants and the public to track the status and progress of state permit applications in real-time.
- Regulatory Simplification Team: Creates a task force to study and reform existing state regulations that impose unnecessary costs or significant delays on new projects.
- New Jersey Report Card: Launches a public-facing performance tool to increase transparency regarding state spending and the delivery of government services.
Executive Order No. 5 was one of six orders signed by Governor Sherrill yesterday (January 20, 2026) to address affordability and government accountability.