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

(TRENTON) — As Washington imposes new hurdles for families receiving health care and food assistance, the General Assembly today took decisive action to help more than two million New Jersey residents keep their benefits. Bill A3883, Sponsored by Speaker Craig J. Coughlin, and Assembly members Annette Quijano, Shanique Speight, and Jerry Walker, would help families and individuals comply with new federal requirements that threaten their access to two critical safety-net programs—NJ FamilyCare and SNAP.

“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. “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, or the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," 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.

“H.R. 1 created new obstacles for people who are already working hard to provide for themselves and their families,” said Assemblywoman Quijano (D-Union). “While we're not always able to change those decisions happening federally, we can and should be doing everything we can to help eligible New Jerseyans meet these new requirements and that's what this bill does, it makes sure red tape doesn't come between you and your next meal, or your next doctors visit.”

Bill A3883 directly addresses the threats posed under H.R. 1 by making it easier for beneficiaries of the programs to find volunteer work in our state.

Under the bill, the Governor's Office of Volunteerism would work in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, to expand and modify the State's network of existing volunteer resources and would modify the HELPNJNOW portal or any equivalent successor portal to allow the public to search and apply for bona fide volunteer opportunities that comply with federal requirements and submit their volunteer hours.

“It’s our duty to put measures in place to ensure children and families in New Jersey have access to adequate healthcare, food, and nutrition,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex, Hudson). “By providing residents with clear information about available resources and opportunities, this legislation helps connect more families to the support they need, reduces barriers to accessing essential benefits, and strengthens food security for communities across our state.”

“This bill takes something that is already tried and proven effective and repurposes it to meet the challenges that more than two million of our neighbors have been forced to navigate on their own,” said Assemblyman Walker (D-Hudson). “It is our responsibility to do our part to remind those people that they're not alone. If public servants truly want to serve the public then we can't simply just point people toward the path, we need to help them navigate it too, and I'm proud of our work in the Legislature to step up and do just that.”