Bill > A1342

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the New Jersey Government Restructuring and Modernization Commission, a bipartisan and collaborative body tasked with reviewing the structure and operations of New Jersey's executive branch departments and agencies to recommend improvements in efficiency, transparency, and accountability. New Jersey faces a structural budget deficit, and this legislation recognizes that part of the solution needs to include a thorough review of how the State government operates. Unlike similar efforts in the past, this commission is designed to take a strategic and long-term approach, grounded in institutional knowledge, inter-branch collaboration, and operational reality. The 15-member commission will include representatives from the executive branch, the Legislature, frontline public employees with a decade or more of State service, and public members with expertise in governance or fiscal policy. The goal is to bring together those who understand government from the inside with those who can challenge outdated structures and propose modern solutions. Importantly, this bill does not authorize layoffs or workforce reductions. Any structural or organizational reforms proposed must rely on natural attrition, retirements, and reallocation of personnel. This ensures that the process is both fiscally responsible and humane, avoiding unintended consequences that might disrupt vital public services or harm career public servants. The commission will deliver a modernization blueprint, and submit a report annually to the Governor and Legislature, identifying redundant programs, recommending agency consolidations, and proposing improvements to inter-agency coordination and oversight. All meetings will be public and transparent, with input from employees and the public encouraged through a designated online portal. The bill requires staff and related support services to be provided to the commission by the New Jersey Department of State. By promoting collaboration between the executive and legislative branches and empowering experienced public employees to have a seat at the table, this bill represents a responsible, inclusive, and forward-thinking path to reimagining how New Jersey government works, and for whom it works.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Cody Miller (D)*,  Dan Hutchison (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document