Establishes "Trenton Makes Commission."

A1781

ASSEMBLY, No. 1781

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman ANTHONY S. VERRELLI

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes "Trenton Makes Commission."

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

establishing a commission to identify ways to
support New Jersey manufacturing and incentivize new manufacturing to locate in
the State and supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a. There is established,
in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Trenton Makes Commission.
The duties and responsibilities of the commission shall be to assist the
authority to develop strategies and recommend policies to the Governor and
Legislature for adoption into law ways to incentivize manufacturing businesses
to locate in New Jersey, while also focusing on strengthening the existing
manufacturing business sector already established within the State.

���� b.� The Trenton Makes
Commission shall consist of 13 voting members, to be selected and qualified as
follows
:

���� (1)�� One public member appointed by the Governor;

���� (2)�� One public member appointed by the President of
the Senate;

���� (3)�� One public member appointed by the Speaker of
the General Assembly;

���� (4)�� One public member appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate;

���� (5)�� One public member appointed by the Minority
Leader of the General Assembly;

���� (6)�� One public member appointed by the Governor to
represent the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc.;

���� (7)�� One public member appointed by the Governor to
represent the New Jersey Business & Industry Association;

���� (8)�� One public member appointed by the Governor to
represent the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce;�

���� (9)��
The
Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority
, or the chief executive officer�s designee, who
shall serve ex officio
;�

���� (10) T
he
Secretary of Higher Education
, or the secretary�s designee, who
shall serve ex officio;

���� (11)� One public member appointed by the Governor to
represent the State�s county colleges;

���� (12)� One public member appointed by the Governor to
represent the State�s public institutions of higher education
; and

���� (13)� One public member appointed by the Governor to
represent the State�s independent colleges and universities
.

���� c.����
The 10 public members first appointed,
barring those serving ex officio, shall all serve for an appointment term of
four years. Thereafter, all other public members appointed by the Governor
shall serve for a term of two years
.

���� d.���
Each appointed member shall serve for the
term of the appointment and until a successor shall have been appointed and
qualified
.

���� e.����
Any vacancies in the membership of the
commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were
made
.

���� f.����
The commission shall organize as soon as
practicable after the appointment of its members, and shall select a chair from
among its members, and a secretary who need not be a member of the board.

���� g.���
A majority of the entire commission shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Action may be taken, and
motions and resolutions adopted by the commission at any meeting thereof by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the full membership of the commission
.

���� h.���
The members of the commission shall serve
without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in
the performance of their duties
.

���� i.����
The commission shall be entitled to the
assistance and service of the employees of the New Jersey Economic Development
Authority, and may avail itself of the services of the employees of any other
State department, board, bureau, commission, agency, or public institution of
higher education in the State, as it may require and as may be available for
its purposes.

���� 2.��� The commission shall:

���� a.���� study and analyze
approaches other states have utilized to incentivize and strengthen the
manufacturing business sector in those states;

���� b.���
identify cost-effective techniques to (1) incentivize
manufacturing businesses to come to New Jersey; and (2) bolster and support the
existing manufacturing business sector within the State;

���� c.����
consult with the scientific and academic community for
expertise and input; and

���� d.��� report its findings, conclusions, and
recommendations to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164
(C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature no later than one year following the first
meeting of the commission.

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the
�Trenton Makes Commission� (commission). The permanent commission is
established to research and implement the best ways to incentivize
manufacturing businesses to come into New Jersey, while also focusing on
strengthening the current manufacturing business sector already established
within the State.

���� The commission is to consist
of 13 voting members, including members appointed by the Governor, legislative
leaders, and relevant associations and agencies.� The appointed members are to
serve terms ranging from two to four years.� The commission is tasked with��
studying and analyzing approaches other states have utilized to incentivize and
strengthen the manufacturing business sector in those states, identifying
cost-effective techniques to incentivize and support both new and existing
manufacturing businesses within the State, consulting with the scientific and
academic community for expertise and input, and reporting its findings and
recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.