Legislation would help residents that rely on NJ FamilyCare and SNAP as they navigate harsh new federal work requirements

As the human cost of Washington’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” begins to come into focus for the most vulnerable New Jerseyans, Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin is making sure families in the Garden State don’t fall through the cracks. Bill A3883, which advanced through the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee today, would help families and individuals comply with new federal requirements that threaten their access to two critical safety-net programs—NJ FamilyCare and SNAP.

Combined, these programs provide healthcare benefits and food assistance to more than two million New Jersey residents.

“For a parent working two jobs, a senior on a fixed income, or someone dealing with a health issue, navigating new and expanded mandates can be the difference between keeping benefits and losing them,” said Speaker Coughlin in his testimony. “Here in New Jersey, we already lead the nation in fighting food insecurity—we fought hard to provide the highest monthly SNAP minimum in the country, and we should be proud of that. But setting the bar high means nothing if we let bureaucracy knock people off the ladder on their way up.”

Signed into federal law on July 4, 2025, H.R. 1 imposes new mandates on recipients of NJ FamilyCare and SNAP, requiring that most adults receiving benefits under these programs either work, attend school or volunteer as well as recertify for benefits twice a year, compared to the previous annual recertification. These new requirements could inadvertently push thousands of beneficiaries out of the programs, due to confusion regarding compliance or challenges submitting documentation.

During his testimony, Speaker Coughlin outlined how A3883 directly addresses those threats by making it easier for beneficiaries to find volunteer work in our state. Under the bill, the Department of Human Services would be directed to work in collaboration with the Governor's Office of Volunteerism and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, to expand and modify the State's network of existing volunteer resources and would update the HELPNJNOW portal to allow the public to search and apply for bona fide volunteer opportunities that comply with the federal requirements and submit their volunteer hours.

“These are residents running into barriers that have nothing to do with whether they qualify and everything to do with whether they can navigate the system,” added Speaker Coughlin. “It asks New Jersey to do what New Jersey has always done—step up for our neighbors when the other people won’t. We already know from social service professionals and grassroots advocates alike that the new semi-annual certification will be a real challenge for both constituents and county governments alike. If we can provide relief in one area, we’re increasing the chances that our constituents will ultimately succeed.”