Sherrill signs ethics, government efficiency, permitting and youth safety orders

Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday signed four executive orders after her inauguration, advancing an early agenda focused on ethics, government efficiency, regulatory reform, and children’s mental health.

The actions build on themes Sherrill emphasized during the campaign: restoring trust in government, reducing bureaucratic delays, and addressing emerging public health challenges tied to technology.

Executive Order No. 3 reestablishes ethical standards for public employees and officers in the Sherrill administration, continuing financial disclosure and conflict-of-interest requirements that lapsed at the end of the prior administration. The order maintains personal financial disclosure statements for designated officials, allows for blind trusts in certain cases, requires disclosure of interests in closely held corporations and continues a code of conduct for the governor and lieutenant governor.

Executive Order No. 4 creates the Office of the Chief Operating Officer within the Governor’s Office, formalizing a role Sherrill has described as central to improving how state government functions. The COO will serve as the governor’s principal adviser on operations, strategic initiatives and organizational performance, while leading efforts to streamline permitting and improve customer service across agencies. The order establishes multiple internal offices and requires state agencies to designate liaisons to work with the COO. Sherrill previously announced Kellie Doucette as New Jersey’s first COO.

Executive Order No. 5 takes direct aim at permitting delays and regulatory complexity, a frequent complaint among businesses, developers and local governments. The order establishes a Cross-Agency Permitting Team within the Office of the COO to coordinate approvals and reduce project delays and costs. Agencies must catalog all permits they issue, while the team is tasked with developing a public Permitting Dashboard to track application status and review timelines. The order also creates a Regulatory Simplification Team and launches a public-facing “New Jersey Report Card” to show how state-funded programs are performing, including an interactive budget tool.

Executive Order No. 6 focuses on children’s online safety and mental health, directing state agencies to prioritize youth mental health outcomes in policies affecting digital platforms. It establishes the Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness within the Department of Health to coordinate efforts across government, engage stakeholders and develop policy proposals. The order also signals Sherrill’s commitment to creating a higher-education-based research center focused on online safety and youth mental health.