Sherrill Leads Roundtable Highlighting Progress on Government Efficiency

By Jim Pytell, Managing Editor On Feb 18, 2026

Gov. Mikie Sherrill led a roundtable discussion today highlighting her administration’s work so far in supporting small businesses by way of delivering a more responsive, efficient, and affordable state government, particularly when it comes to permitting processes and burdensome regulations.

During the discussion – which took place at Advanced Solar Products in Flemington – Sherrill acknowledged that small businesses are the backbone of the state’s economy, central to job creation, innovation, and strong communities, and noted the importance of making it easier to do business in the state.

Reduction of business burdens and red tape has been a hallmark priority for NJBIA, as described in its Blueprint for a More Competitive New Jersey. 

“Rather than being a source of red tape and bureaucratic roadblocks, state government should work for our business community, helping to build up entrepreneurs by expanding opportunity and lowering costs,” said Sherrill, who campaigned on eliminating “red tape” and making government more efficient overall.

She added that her administration is making it a top priority to provide public servants with tools to improve customer service by modernizing outdated systems and expediting permitting and regulatory processes.

“[This will] enable businesses to spend more time growing and investing,” Sherrill said.

“The process matters,” said NJBIA Chief Government Affairs Officer Chris Emigholz, who was part of the panel. “The process of how to get to a compromise and how to achieve balance is important. Unfortunately, that process has not been there in recent years, but there is a renewed sense of excitement across the business community now because we are seeing that process come back.”

Sherrill pointed to Executive Order No. 4, which she signed on Jan. 20 that establishes the Office of the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and her subsequent appointment of Kellie Doucette as COO, as a sound foundation to build upon improving government efficiency and collaboration with the business community at large.

Sherrill also signed Executive Order No. 5 on Jan. 20, which outlines multiple actions to reduce permitting delays and costs, boost accountability in the permitting and regulatory process, and expand transparency into how taxpayer dollars are spent.

More specifically, the executive order: establishes a Cross-Agency Permitting Team; requires state agencies to catalog all the types of permits they issue; directs the Cross-Agency Permitting Team to develop a permitting dashboard; establishes a Regulatory Simplification Team, within the Office of the COO, to reform state regulatory structures and processes to reduce project delays and costs; and creates the New Jersey Report Card, an interactive public-facing online portal that provides information on state-funded programs and what they are delivering for residents and includes an interactive budget analysis tool.

Sherrill then outlined several initial steps that have been taken so far that impact permitting. According to the governor:

• All state agencies have been directed to complete a comprehensive catalogue of permits and approvals. This inventory, due April 20, 2026, will help identify outdated or duplicative requirements and inform the reforms required under Executive Order 5.   

• The Governor’s Office has convened working sessions and completed initial permitting reviews with leadership and staff at the New Jersey Department of Transportation, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to examine permit processes in depth and discuss opportunities to improve coordination and reduce delays.   

• In collaboration with the New Jersey Innovation Authority, the Sherrill administration is developing a real-time permitting dashboard, allowing applicants to track progress, increase transparency, and help identify bottlenecks. The Governor’s Office expects to initially launch a pilot dashboard with a limited set of projects and will expand functionality from there.

“My ask to all of you [in the business community] is to engage with us,” Sherrill said. “Let us know what is working, what is not and give us feedback. We [want] to be as responsive as possible to our business community.”  

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

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