Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Speight
SYNOPSIS
Makes FY2026 supplemental appropriation of $175 million from General Fund to DHS for Emergency SNAP Replacement Benefits.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, P.L.2025, c.74.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2025, c.74, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
54 DEPARTMENT HUMAN SERVICES
50 Economic Planning, Development, and Security
53 Economic Assistance and Security
7550 Division of Family Development
STATE AID
15-7550 Income Maintenance Management ................. $175,000,000
Total State Aid appropriation,
Division of Family Development ................ $175,000,000
State Aid:
15 Emergency SNAP Replacement Benefits ($175,000,000)
The amount hereinabove appropriated for Emergency SNAP Replacement Benefits shall be used by the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to issue monthly replacement benefits to eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households during any month in State fiscal year 2026, until all appropriations have been expended, in which the monthly federal SNAP benefit amount issued to an eligible household is less than the household's most recently certified federal SNAP monthly benefit. Monthly replacement benefits issued under this paragraph shall be: 1) in an amount that, when added to any federal SNAP benefit issued to the household, equals the household's most recently certified federal SNAP monthly benefit; and 2) subject to the same State rules and procedures for implementing SNAP to the greatest extent possible, including, but not limited to, distributing the monthly replacement benefits using the SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer system and requiring that benefits be used solely for the purchase of food as defined in 7 U.S.C. s.2012. No later than June 30, 2026, the division shall submit a request to the United States Department of Agriculture for reimbursement of all State funds expended under this paragraph.
2. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill makes a FY2026 supplemental appropriation of $175 million to the Division of Family Development (division) in the Department of Human Services. These State funds are to be used to issue monthly replacement benefits to eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households during any month in State fiscal year 2026, until all appropriations have been expended, in which the monthly federal SNAP benefit amount issued to an eligible household is less than the household's most recently certified federal SNAP monthly benefit.
SNAP provides assistance to supplement the food budget of low-income families nationwide. The program is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the division, in conjunction with the county welfare agencies. Benefits for the program are funded solely by federal dollars; however, federal funding for SNAP benefits was paused in November 2025 due to a federal government shutdown, which caused a great deal of uncertainty. According to the division, roughly 800,000 New Jersey residents receive approximately $175 million a month in federal SNAP benefits.
Monthly replacement SNAP benefits issued under the bill are to be: 1) in an amount that, when added to any federal SNAP benefit issued to the household, equals the household's most recently certified federal SNAP monthly benefit; and 2) subject to the same State rules and procedures for implementing SNAP to the greatest extent possible. No later than June 30, 2026, the division is to submit a request to the United States Department of Agriculture for reimbursement of all State funds expended under the bill.