Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Assemblyman JERRY WALKER
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Kearney, Assemblywomen Carter, Brennan, Haider and Assemblyman Sampson
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHS to promote and support volunteerism in connection to compliance with certain eligibility requirements for NJ FamilyCare and SNAP recipients; appropriates $125,000 to DHS and Office of Volunteerism.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee on June 1, 2026, with amendments.
An Act concerning volunteerism and compliance with NJ FamilyCare and SNAP eligibility requirements, 1[and]1 supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes 1, and making an appropriation1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares:
a. On July 4, 2025, the federal law known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21, or OBBBA, was adopted, requiring New Jersey to implement various changes over the coming years to two of the State’s most critical safety-net programs: NJ FamilyCare and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP.
b. NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey's State and federally funded health insurance program, comprised of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, that provides free or low-cost comprehensive healthcare coverage to over 1.8 million qualified residents, including children, pregnant individuals, single adults, parents, and those aged, blind, or disabled.
c. SNAP is a nutrition assistance program, regulated by the federal government and implemented by the states, that provides cash benefits to supplement the grocery budgets of 425,000 low-income households in New Jersey.
d. Under OBBBA, the State is required to make changes to program eligibility that will jeopardize current and future beneficiaries’ access to these programs.
e. Notably, most non-disabled adults age 19 through 64 who qualify for NJ Family Care coverage will be newly required to engage in work or other community engagement activities for at least 80 hours per month.
f. This new NJ FamilyCare work requirement will be compounded by an additional OBBBA provision that mandates New Jersey to recertify eligibility for this population every six months, instead of the existing 12 month interval.
g. Additionally, the existing work requirement under SNAP, which applies to individuals ages 18 through 54 who are able to work and do not have any dependents, will be expanded to include individuals up to age 64 and those individuals who have dependents over the age of 14.
h. The Legislature fears that these requirements under OBBBA will inadvertently push thousands of NJ FamilyCare and SNAP beneficiaries out of these programs due to paperwork overload, administrative filing backups, confusion regarding compliance, and challenges in submitting documentation to demonstrate compliance.
i. However, because beneficiaries can comply with the requirements under both programs through volunteer hours, one avenue of response to preparing the State for implementation is to promote and support volunteerism.
j. The Legislature, therefore, deems it necessary to maximize the State’s existing resources, and to establish any necessary new tools, to help residents find bona fide volunteer opportunities that will satisfy NJ FamilyCare and SNAP work requirements and to easily demonstrate compliance with these requirements via volunteer hours.
2. a. The Department of Human Services shall work in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State, or any successor entity, 1and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development,1 to modify and expand the State’s existing volunteer resources such that information is easily accessible to State residents regarding compliance, via volunteer hours or community service, with the Medicaid community engagement requirements established in section 71119 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21, and with the expanded work requirements for SNAP established in section 10102 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21 1, as well as any subsequent federal regulations or guidance regarding these statutory requirements1. At a minimum, these efforts shall include:
(1) 1[Establishing, or modifying an] Modifying the1 existing, web-based 1[tool that allow] HELPNJNOW portal to allow1 the public to search and apply for bona fide volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements;
2) Engaging and soliciting non-profit and community organizations, businesses, governmental agencies, and other appropriate entities to identify volunteer opportunities that comply with the applicable requirements;
3) 1[Creating, or modifying an] Modifying the1 existing, web-based 1[database through which] HELPNJNOW portal so that1 entities can: register with the State as an organization that offers volunteer opportunities in compliance with the applicable requirements; and submit volunteer opportunities to be included on the 1[web-based tool established pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection] HELPNJNOW portal1; and
4) Providing a link to the 1existing,1 web-based 1[tool established pursuant paragraph (1) of this subsection] HELPNJNOW portal1, as well as an explanation of the applicable requirements, on the State’s NJ FamilyCare webpage, the State’s SNAP webpage, the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism webpage, and any other relevant webpage as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services.
b. The Department of Human Services shall create, or modify an existing, 1web-based,1 mobile 1[application] friendly resource1 that allows NJ FamilyCare and SNAP applicants and beneficiaries to submit to the appropriate eligibility determination agencies all information and documentation regarding volunteer or community service hours that 1[is] are1 necessary to demonstrate compliance with the Medicaid community engagement requirements established in section 71119 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Pub.L.119-21, and with the expanded work requirements for SNAP established in section 10102 of the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,”Pub.L.119-21.
c. 1The Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall establish a system by which volunteer hours and community service acquired by SNAP applicants and beneficiaries under this section can be shared between the departments in order to collaboratively administer the NJ SNAP ETP, as that term is defined in section 2 of P.L. 2013, c.45 (C. 44:10-96). To the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of this subsection, the departments shall enter into the applicable data sharing agreements.
d.1 The Department of Human Services shall perform annual audit reviews of the volunteer opportunities submitted pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection a. of this section, and the information and documentation submitted pursuant to subsection b. of this section, to verify that all information is accurate and that no abuse or malfeasance is being committed.
1[d.] e.1 The State shall be immune from any liability for any injury incurred by a volunteer as a result of an individual’s volunteer or community service stemming from the 1exisitng,1 web-based 1[tool established, or modified, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section] HELPNJNOW portal1.
1[e.]f.1 As used in this act:
“Medicaid” means the program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).
“NJ FamilyCare” means the State-branded name given to the programs established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.) and P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-8 et al.).
“SNAP” means the State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State 1and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development1, shall adopt, immediately upon filing proper notice with the Office of Administrative Law, regulations that the Commissioner of Human Services deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act, which regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 18 months from the date of the filing. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State 1and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development1, may thereafter amend, adopt, or readopt the regulations in accordance with the requirements of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
14. There is appropriated from the General Fund: to the Department of Human Services the sum of $50,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act; and to the Office of Volunteerism located in the Department of State the sum of $75,000 to effectuate the provisions of this act.1
1[4. This] 5. The provisions of this1 act 1that apply to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program1 shall take effect 1[immediately] no later than October 1, 2026. The provisions of this act that apply to the NJ FamilyCare program shall take effect no later than October 1, 2027. The Department of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance of these effective dates as shall be necessary for implementation of this act1.