A new report from a legislative committee probing business tax breaks says that lying on applications to get awards in New Jersey should open companies up to prosecution.

It was just one of more than two dozen recommendations in the Special Committee on Economic Growth's final report. The report was issued Friday after nearly a year of investigating the now-expired tax incentives and holding four public hearings.

New York-based Walden Macht & Haran and the Quinones Law firms conducted the investigation on behalf of Ronald Chen, a former Rutgers Law School dean, who chairs the task force.

Invoices obtained by the Associated Press found that the investigation cost taxpayers at least $8 million.

The Chris Christie-era tax break program expired on June 30, meaning that new applications aren't being considered, though previously approved awards could still be paid out.