June 18, 2026

Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation Promoting School Meals to Address Food Insecurity

“While Washington Republicans work to undermine critical elements of our social safety net, here in New Jersey we are laser-focused on ensuring our children have the resources they need to thrive,” said Governor Sherrill. “Every child deserves access to nutritious meals, whether they are in the classroom or at home during the summer. This legislation will make it easier for families to find and access school meal programs by ensuring information is readily available when they need it. At the same time, we are continuing our commitment to fighting food insecurity by providing Summer EBT benefits to more than 681,000 New Jersey children, helping families put food on the table even while school is out of session. We will continue doing everything we can to ensure no child in New Jersey goes hungry simply because their family cannot navigate additional red tape.”

This announcement comes at a critical time as the Trump Administration puts up new barriers that make it more difficult for eligible families to continue accessing critical, life-sustaining benefits. Across the country, H.R. 1 is creating unnecessary red tape that makes it more difficult for individuals to stay enrolled in programs like Medicaid and SNAP. As enrollment in these programs decreases, so will the number of students who are directly certified to participate in subsidized school meal programs.

Direct certification allows families to enroll in free and reduced-price school meal programs with no extra paperwork required as long as they are already participating in other government assistance programs, such as Medicaid or SNAP. Of the 689,149 students eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, 456,705 are directly certified. As the Trump Administration undermines our state’s ability to continue direct certification, hundreds of thousands of children could be at risk of losing their benefits and going hungry during the school day.

The legislation (A3882/S3426) signed today requires public schools to post a link to the subsidized school meals application in a prominent location on their website, along with a link to at least one informational video produced by the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate regarding the school meals application.

This legislation represents a practical and targeted effort to strengthen support for New Jersey families and ensure that students have consistent access to nutritious meals during the school day. School meals remain one of the most direct and effective ways to address food insecurity among children during the school year.

“As the fight against food insecurity evolves, so too must our efforts to ensure that the programs created and designed to help people reach those who need them most,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “Over the past several years, New Jersey has expanded free school meal eligibility to reach more than 70,000 additional students and made historic investments in our food system because we know that when children have access to nutritious meals, they are better set up to learn and reach their full potential in the classroom. At a time when others have stepped back from the fight against hunger, I’m proud knowing that here in New Jersey we continue to stand up and pass legislation that meets families where they are, because every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.”

“At a time of rising food insecurity, closing information gaps and reducing application barriers is a simple step we can take to better connect families with the nutrition support they need,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “An empty stomach makes it harder for students to be fully engaged in the classroom, and for many children, a school breakfast or lunch is their most dependable source of daily nutrition. Making the application for school meals more accessible will help ensure students are properly nourished and enter the classroom ready to learn and succeed.”

“This legislation is a meaningful step forward for New Jersey families facing food insecurity. By ensuring the school meal application is visible and accessible on every school website, we are giving parents back valuable time — time they can spend caring for their children rather than navigating complex systems,” said Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate (OFSA). “I’m grateful to Governor Sherrill for her leadership and to Speaker Coughlin, Senator Ruiz, and our partners in the legislature for championing this important bill. Families that face food insecurity often do not have the bandwidth to sift through mountains of information just to access benefits they are entitled to. This legislation is a testament to New Jersey's, and the Sherrill Administration's, commitment to meeting families on their journey towards building better and healthier lives for themselves.”

“When students have access to the supports they need, they are better able to focus on learning,” said New Jersey Education Commissioner Lily Laux. “This bill will make it easier for families to access school meals information so more students receive the support they need to succeed in safe, supportive schools.”

“The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, is committed to making sure more children have access to the nutritious meals they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn. “Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school day nourished and ready to succeed, and this legislation strengthens our ability to connect eligible students and families with critical benefits. Expanded communication means school meals programs and Summer EBT benefits reach children across the state ensuring more New Jersey families receive the support they need. Feeding our children is one of the most important investments we can make in their health, education, and future.”

“I want to thank Governor Sherrill for signing this important legislation and taking a meaningful step in our fight against hunger and food insecurity,” said Lisa Pitz, Director of Hunger Free New Jersey. “This progress would not be possible without strong champions. We commend Speaker Coughlin, Assemblywoman Quijano, and Assemblyman Hutchinson for their leadership and continued commitment to expanding school meal access and reducing food insecurity across the Garden State. By removing barriers and making it easier for parents to complete the school meal application process, this legislation will help more children access free breakfast and lunch at school, providing the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive.”

"The Community FoodBank of New Jersey remains grateful to Speaker Craig Coughlin, Governor Mikie Sherrill, and the entire state legislature for continuing to lead the way in hunger relief and prioritizing the needs of our neighbors facing food insecurity — especially children," said Elizabeth McCarthy, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. "Cuts and changes to SNAP have already forced tens of thousands of New Jerseyans off the program, leaving families with less food on their tables and making access to school meals more important than ever. No child should miss out on healthy meals because their family doesn't know that help is available. This commonsense bill will connect more eligible families to a critical source of nutrition that supports children's health, learning, and success."

Governor Sherrill also announced that more than 680,000 eligible children across the state will begin receiving Summer EBT benefits in the coming days. For Summer 2026, the NJ Summer EBT program will continue to provide families with a one-time Summer EBT benefit amount of $120 per eligible child to buy nutritious food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers during the summer months. Families can check their child’s summer EBT eligibility here. The School Meals and Summer EBT Application will continue to be accepted throughout the summer. To apply for School Meals and Summer EBT benefits, families should contact their local school district.