Realtors ® Q&A Meet the Decision Makers

Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman

Welcome to our series, Meet the Decision Makers, where we interview key decision makers on their influential role within New Jersey. For this issue, we have Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman. His verbatim responses are italicized below. Do you have an idea of someone you’d like to see us interview? Email editor@njrealtor.com

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in public service?

Having grown up in New Jersey, I was fortunate to be immersed in the diversity of our great state, which shaped who I am today. I understood early on that New Jersey’s diversity in population and experiences is what makes it a unique place to live. Through my love of history and my parents instilling in me to follow my passions, I was drawn to public service at a young age. I have had the privilege of serving in numerous roles during my tenure in state government, and was incredibly honored to be nominated by Governor Murphy to serve as the Commissioner of the Department of Banking and insurance, after holding the Department’s Chief of Staff position since 2018. Prior to joining the Murphy Administration, I served as Chief of Policy and Legislation to the New Jersey State Senate President Pro Tempore, where I focused on expanding access to quality affordable healthcare for New Jerseyans, and the expansion of voting rights and civil rights. I began my time in state service working as a Briefing Aide to Governor Jon Corzine and Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs for the New Jersey Department of State. Throughout my career, I have benefited from working alongside state leaders and dedicated public servants who are also committed to bringing meaningful change to our state that improves the lives of New Jerseyans.

What does the job of the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance entail in the state of NJ?

As the Acting Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, I serve as the chief regulator of New Jersey’s insurance industry, all state-chartered banks and credit unions, consumer finance licensees and the real estate industry. The department works to regulate these industries in a professional and timely manner that protects and educates consumers and promotes the growth, financial stability and efficiency of those industries.

Additionally, I lead Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, which connects residents who do not have health coverage from their employers or access to other health care programs to quality, affordable health insurance.

What have you been working on that would help the real estate market in NJ?

The department works every day to strengthen the real estate industry through our regulation and oversight to ensure that licensees serving the public are meeting high standards. Additionally, we are focused on being responsive to the needs of Realtors® and have taken steps to modernize our processes to better serve the industry. We’ve worked to improve the licensing process and allowed for remote exams to provide greater flexibility for existing licensees and for individuals who want to pursue a career in real estate who want to take the licensure exams.

What other issues have you been tackling in your role as Acting Commissioner?

The department is committed to Governor Murphy’s goal of a stronger and fairer New Jersey. Since the beginning of the administration the Department has developed and implemented numerous consumer protections and

Top Five Questions

1. Does Central NJ exist? Yes, see P.L. 2023 c. 149..

2. Go-To Pizza Topping: Sausage and Broccoli Rabe programs impacting countless New Jerseyans, including New Jersey’s out of network law, student loan protections, mortgage servicers licensing, mental health parity and expanding access to reproductive health care.

3. Pork Roll or Taylor Ham: Taylor Ham

4. Favorite Sports Team: Jets and Mets

5. Dead or Alive, who is someone you would want to meet? A dinner in Washington, D.C. with Ulysess S. Grant and Frederick Douglass

What do you think is the most impactful project you have worked on?

The department’s work to create and establish Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, has been incredibly impactful. Since its inception in 2020, Get Covered New Jersey transformed New Jersey’s health insurance landscape for consumers in the individual market, ensuring that more New Jerseyans have greater access to quality, affordable health insurance. New Jersey was the first state in the nation to open its marketplace with enhanced state subsidies that lower premiums for most enrollees. The department has also worked to build flexibility in the Marketplace to provide access to health insurance for as many residents as possible and has created Special Enrollment Periods tailored to the needs of our residents. Because of the leadership of Governor Murphy, the legislature and the department, hundreds of thousands of residents have already obtained health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey, and the overwhelming majority of enrollees have benefited from state and federal savings.