Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday signed legislation establishing the New Jersey Innovation Authority (NJIA), permanently codifying the state’s Office of Innovation as an authority within the Department of the Treasury and making New Jersey the first state in the nation to enshrine a state innovation office into law.

The measure, A5728/S4485, builds on more than seven years of work by the Office of Innovation, which was launched in 2018 to modernize state services through human-centered design, agile technology development, and data-driven decision-making.

“With the permanent establishment of the New Jersey Innovation Authority, we are ensuring state government continues to deliver more efficient and effective services for New Jerseyans long after my time in office,” Murphy said. “From advancing responsible AI use to streamlining processes for residents, our Office of Innovation has made remarkable strides for our state since its establishment in 2018. I look forward to watching the New Jersey Innovation Authority develop new solutions to real-world problems, save our residents and businesses time and money, and further New Jersey’s reputation as a national leader in innovation.”

State officials said the move cements innovation as a long-term pillar of government operations, regardless of future administrations. Since its creation, the Office of Innovation has worked with nearly every state agency to improve how residents and businesses interact with government.

According to its recently released second annual Impact Report, the office helped more than 65,000 entrepreneurs start businesses faster through Business.NJ.Gov, generating an estimated $167 million in economic impact in 2024 alone. Other initiatives included modernizing more than a dozen state call centers, enrolling an additional 100,000 children in the Summer EBT nutrition program through data-driven outreach, and reducing the average time to apply for unemployment insurance by more than three hours through a redesigned online application.

The office has also played a growing role in responsibly deploying emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to speed up benefit delivery and improve efficiency across state government.

Under the new law, the New Jersey Innovation Authority will be overseen by a 13-member Board of Directors appointed by the governor. The board will include ex-officio members as well as public members with expertise in areas such as data science, public engagement, digital technology, and digital service delivery.

The Office of Innovation will continue to be staffed by specialists in technology, engineering, data, design, and policy, and will maintain its focus on agile development, human-centered design, and measurable outcomes.

Murphy created the cabinet-level position of Chief Innovation Officer in August 2018 to lead the office. Beth Simone Noveck served as the state’s first Chief Innovation Officer until 2024 and was succeeded by Dave Cole.

Supporters of the legislation say the new authority provides stability, structure, and independence that will allow innovation efforts to expand, helping modernize outdated systems, improve access to benefits and services, and strengthen New Jersey’s competitiveness for businesses and entrepreneurs.

State leaders and business groups also said the NJIA will help ensure that technology investments remain focused on real-world results, equity, and efficiency, while allowing the state to remain nimble as new technologies continue to reshape government and the economy.