LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 2959

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: JUNE 1, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Reformats MyNJHelps web-based platform as centralized online resource for all State administered public assistance programs.

 

Type of Impact:

Annual State expenditure increase; potential State revenue increase.

Agencies Affected:

New Jersey Office of Information Technology and various other State departments.

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Annual

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

Potential State Revenue Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that the New Jersey Office of Information Technology would incur indeterminate expenses to expand the existing MyNJHelps web-based application platform to include all State-administered public assistance programs.  

·         It is possible that certain expenditures incurred under the bill may qualify for federal reimbursement, as eligible administration costs for programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), thereby increasing State revenue by an indeterminate amount.

·         To the extent that existing web-based eligibility and screening tools can be utilized to develop the integrated eligibility system required under the bill, costs would be minimized.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill directs the New Jersey Office of Information Technology, no later than 365 days after the bill’s effective date and in collaboration with all applicable State agencies, to expand the MyNJHelps web-based application platform to include all State-administered public assistance programs.  Under the bill, the office will: reformat the MyNJHelps website as the State’s centralized online resource for applicants to access information about, apply for benefits to, and check the application status of all State-administered public assistance programs, and design a single application, accessible on the MyNJHelps website, through which an applicant can apply for all State-administered public assistance programs.   

      The bill also directs the office to enter into any necessary data sharing agreements with applicable State agencies to comply with the provisions therein.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that the New Jersey Office of Information Technology would incur indeterminate expenses to expand the existing MyNJHelps web-based application platform to include all State-administered public assistance programs.  Currently, New Jersey residents can use this tool to apply for SNAP, Work First New Jersey, and the NJ FamilyCare/Medicaid Program.  It is possible that certain expenditures incurred under the bill may qualify for federal reimbursement, as eligible administration costs for programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, thereby increasing State revenue by an indeterminate amount.

      Integrated eligibility systems, like the one mandated under the bill, provide applicants with a "no wrong door" approach when applying for public assistance programs.  States frequently contract consulting firms to develop and operate these systems, with costs varying significantly based on the number of programs and administering entities involved.  Establishing an integrated eligibility system for all State-administered public assistance programs, as required under the bill, is a highly complex initiative due to the diversity of eligibility requirements and populations served across the State’s public assistance programs.  

      In addition to the MyNJHelps platform, residents in New Jersey can currently screen for SNAP, Work First New Jersey, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program via NJHelps.gov; and apply for Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled, Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program, Lifeline Utility Assistance Program, various Medicare assistance programs, and Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled, as well as be screened for various other programs, via the NJSave website.  To the extent that these existing web-based systems can be utilized to develop the integrated eligibility system required under the bill, costs would be minimized.

      On the following page is a list of the major State-administered public assistance programs in New Jersey.

Major State-Administered Public Assistance Programs

Administering Department

Program Names

Department of Human Services

NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Work First New Jersey (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and General Assistance), Child Care Assistance Program, Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled, Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program, Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program, Medicare Savings Programs, Lifeline Utility Assistance Program.

Department of Health

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

Department of Agriculture

Free or Reduced Price School Meals, Summer EBT.

Department of Education

Head Start.

Department of Community Affairs

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, State Rental Assistance Program, Supportive Housing Connection Program.

 

      Experiences in other states provide some context for potential costs in New Jersey.  For example, according to an October 2024 report, between approximately 2015 to 2024, Oregon spent over $416 million in contracting costs related to the design, development, and implementation of the State’s integrated eligibility system for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and SNAP, with an additional $298 million from approximately 2020 to 2024 in maintenance and operations costs for the system.  At the time, Oregon anticipated incurring $47 million in annual maintenance and operation costs of the system.  Additionally, the state projected that federal resources would cover approximately 78 percent of the project cost and 64 percent of maintenance and operations costs.  In Connecticut, the state anticipated expending $54.7 million over a multiyear period to redesign and expand an existing integrated eligibility system for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, SNAP, and the state’s cash assistance program.  It is important to note that neither of the above examples provide costs for systems that include all of the state’s public assistance programs, as required under the bill.

 

 

Section:

Human Services

Analyst:

Sarah M. Schmidt

Principal Research Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).