The final phase of the SMART regional initiative is the stand up of the nation's first interstate S&T Authority. This Authority will be overseen by the Governors via a Board of Directors, but operated by the grass-roots tech community. The current SMART membership organization will transition into the Authority.

The States' leadership for SMART is currently in transition. In August of 2003, PA Lt Governor Catherine Baker Knoll was delegated the lead State person from the four Governors with the endorsement of the Congressional Caucus co-leaders. She unfortunately passed away this fall. Her leadership during the seven States Committee meetings led to the signed Memorandum of Agreement among the four states, passage of the NJ SMART Bill and the drafting of the DE and PA Bill. She also assisted the standup of the SMART State Speakers Committee to focus upon the legislative requirements of SMART and the tech community.

PA Speaker Dennis O'Brien founded the State Speakers Committee in January 2008. They conducted their first meeting, with Lt Governor Baker Knoll, in March 2008. Due to the fall elections followed by the new federal and DE administrations, there has not yet been a formal follow up, however there have been many individual State staff meetings. SMART participated in two formal NJ Assembly hearings. The DE bill is in draft and the PA bill has been drafted for introduction this July. The fall elections resulted in new DE and PA Speakers. Representative O'Brien is transitioning the Chair of this Committee to PA Speaker McCall.

SMART continues to work with senior State officials, both Executive and Legislative, towards the stand up the Authority and an orderly transition of activities.