SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 4434

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 8, 2026

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4434 (1R).

      As reported, this bill requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (division) and the Department of Health to conduct a study on the causes, prevention, and reduction of disordered eating in New Jersey.  Within 18 months following the bill’s effective date, the Commissioner of Human Services and the Commissioner of Health are to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report containing the study’s findings and recommendations.

      The study is to include: (1) determining key information about disordered eating, including risk factors and preventing factors; (2) identifying gaps in treatment for disordered eating; (3) evaluating prevention strategies, including dismantling discrimination and bias with regard to weight; and (4) making recommendations to facilitate public outreach, and increase awareness regarding disordered eating prevention, with a focus on impacted communities, such as youth, older residents, people of color, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

      The division may:  (1) contract with a third party to conduct focus groups, interview key individuals, conduct surveys, and establish a collaborative group to discuss key issues regarding disordered eating prevention; (2) partner with the Department of Education to inform teachers, administrators, school staff, students, and parents about disordered eating prevention; and (3) seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources.

      The bill establishes a three-year Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program within the division.  This grant program would provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to conduct research on or research related to barriers to and gaps within the treatment of disordered eating; the root causes of disordered eating; and the risk factors and protective factors for disordered eating in youth, adults, and older residents.

      Under the bill, the division is to submit to the Governor and Legislature a report that summarizes the following information regarding the administration of the Disordered Eating Prevention Research Grant Pilot Program: the number of grant recipients; the amount of each grant award to each grant recipient; and a summary of each grant recipient’s written report.

As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 4434 (1R0 is identical to Senate Bill No. 3329, which was amended and reported by the committee on this date.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the bill would result in an indeterminate increase in State expenditures by the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health to conduct the required study and implement the three-year grant program regarding disordered eating. Some indeterminate costs may also accrue to the Department of Education to inform teachers, other staff members, and parents on disordered eating prevention.