ADDRESSING HUNGER THROUGH
LEGISLATION
Food is a basic human right. We’re turning that belief into reality through legislation that fights hunger in every corner of New Jersey.
FIGHTING HUNGER
Assembly Democrats have helped New Jersey become a national leader in the fight against hunger and food insecurity. Under the leadership of Speaker Coughlin, the state government has increased investment in successful programs and fostered innovation and collaboration among local food banks, non-profits, and agencies. From expanded eligibility for free school meals for kids to better nutrition support for our state’s seniors, the results have been clear: everyone benefits when our neighbors have access to healthy meals. Highlights include:
Office of the Food Security Advocate
SNAP
The nation’s first and only cabinet-level Office of the Food Security Advocate to coordinate resources, increase efficiency, and scale up the statewide effort with local partners.
New Jersey was also the first state in the country to raise the minimum Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit after the federal government allowed aid to lapse.
Expanded Eligibility
An additional 60,000 New Jersey students are eligible for free school meals, after additional state investment in school aid for breakfast and lunch programs.
Local Farm Partnerships
Emergency Food Organizations have seen a 400% increase in support from the State, guided by initiatives like the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) and Local Food Systems (LFS) programs, which encourage efficiency and strengthen partnerships with New Jersey farmers.
Food Desert Relief Act
The Food Desert Relief Act established state grant funds to incentive local businesses to open a first or second supermarket in the top 50 “food deserts” (areas with high population density but without grocery stores that sell fresh produce).
Funding
We have dramatically increased state funding for New Jersey’s network of emergency food organizations, expanding support from $10 million before the pandemic to $85 million for each of the past four budget cycles.
Legislative Action Under Speaker Coughlin
2018-2020:
A-4702
"Hunger-Free Campus Act"; requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish grant program to address food insecurity among students enrolled in public institutions of higher education; appropriates $1 million
Signed May 9, 2019
A-4703
Requires Chief Technology Officer to establish "Anti-Hunger Link" for all State websites, providing information on emergency food services
Signed May 9, 2019
A-4704
Directs Department of Agriculture to establish food desert produce pilot program
Signed May 9, 2019
A-4705
Establishes New Jersey Food Waste Task Force to make recommendations concerning food waste in New Jersey
Signed May 9, 2019
A-4707
Directs Dept. of Agriculture to establish public awareness campaign for food waste
Signed May 9, 2019
AJR60
Designates November of each year as "Food Pantry Donation Month" in New Jersey
Signed May 9, 2019
AJR172
Designates Thursday of third week of September of each year as "Food Waste Prevention Day" in New Jersey
Signed May 9, 2019
AJR174
Urges large food retailers in State to reduce food waste
Signed May 9, 2019
AJR175
Urges Chief Innovation Officer to prioritize enhancement of NJOneApp to include all State anti-hunger programs
Signed May 9, 2019
A-2164
Healthy Small Food Retailer Act
Signed Jan. 21, 2019
A-4701
Requires DHS to establish electronic portal to promote surplus food donation collaboration among nonprofit organizations, gleaners, and food retailers
Signed March 18, 2019
A-5855
Requires State to pay difference between federal allocation and total cost of reduced-price breakfast or lunch; appropriates $4.5 million
Signed Jan. 21, 2020
ACR204
Urges New Jersey Supreme Court to promote public awareness campaign for food growers to register as placement worksites for community service program
Filed with Secretary of State Feb. 25, 2019
AR205
Urges institutions of higher education to coordinate and promote gleaning activities as community service opportunities for students, faculty, and other members of campus community
Filed with Secretary of State Dec. 17, 2018
2020-2022:
A-4
"New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020"; provides for administration of programs and policies related to jobs, property development, food deserts, community partnerships, small and early-stage businesses, State procurement, wind energy, and film production, and makes an appropriation.
*creates Food Desert Relief program*
Signed Jan. 7, 2021
A-1104
"Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act"; requires certain school meal information be provided to students' parents; establishes protocols for identifying eligible students for meal programs; prohibits stigmatizing student with bill in arrears.
Signed May 4, 2020
A-5405
Appropriates $10 million in federal funds to Department of Agriculture to support food bank organizations
Signed April 21, 2021
A-5880
Directs DHS to develop mobile software for SNAP recipients; appropriates $2 million
Signed September 30, 2021
A-5882
Establishes State supplement for federal summer food service program meals
Signed September 30, 2021
A-5883
Establishes State supplement for "breakfast after the bell" meals
Signed September 30, 2021
A-5884
Establishes Office of Food Insecurity Advocate *name later changed to Food Security Advocate*
Signed September 30, 2021
Within the budget bill (A5870), language was included to make a $600,000 appropriation for a SNAP and School Meals Dual Enrollment Pilot Program to provide financial assistance to school districts to aid students enrolled in federal free and reduced meal programs enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
2022-2024:
A-2368
Requires schools to provide free school breakfasts and lunches to students from working class, middle-income families; designated as "Working Class Families' Anti-Hunger Act."
Signed September 9, 2022
A-2359
Provides for streamlining of SNAP application process and establishes SNAP application call center; appropriates $750,000
Signed June 30, 2022
A-2360
Eliminates requirement that participation in NJ SNAP Employment and Training Program is mandatory for certain recipients.
Signed June 30, 2022
A-2361
Requires DHS to maintain SNAP outreach plan and to conduct additional outreach programs.
Signed June 30, 2022
A-2362
Requires DHS to submit a federal waiver request regarding time limits for certain SNAP recipients under certain circumstances.
Signed June 30, 2022
A-2363
Concerns SNAP services provided at county boards of social services and county welfare agencies; appropriates $250,000
Signed June 30, 2022
A-2364
Appropriates $813,000 to DHS to implement use of electronic benefit transfer cards in Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.
Signed June 30, 2022
A-2365
Requires school food authorities to engage in public education campaigns and develop promotional materials to educate parents and guardians of students about existing and expanding school meals program options.
Signed September 9, 2022
A-2366
Establishes State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program; appropriates $18 million to DHS
Signed June 30, 2022
ACR-109
Urges United States Congress to pass the “Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021.”
Passed by Assembly on May 26, 2022
A-1197
Revises SNAP eligibility requirements for certain students attending institutions of higher education.
Passed by Assembly on May 26, 2022
A-2798
Excludes certain income earned from health promotion or disease prevention work from income eligibility determination under NJ FamilyCare, WFNJ, and NJ SNAP. *
Passed by Assembly on May 26, 2022
A4365
Revises various provisions of Food Desert Relief Program.
Signed June 30, 2022
A5462
Emergency Food Organization Oversight Legislation
Signed January 16, 2024
A5164/ sub by S530
Requires certain school meal information be provided to public school students' parents and requires school districts to request that families apply for school meals under certain circumstances
Signed January 8, 2024
A2040 / S540
Requires Commissioner of Human Services to request authorization for SNAP benefits to be used to pay delivery charges for online grocery purchases
Signed January 8, 2024
A2140 / sub by S539wGR
Permits online purchase of eligible foods using WIC funds and use of WIC funds for grocery delivery charges
Signed January 16, 2024
A2257 / sub by S1680wGR
Designates each community college in State as provider of allowable services under SNAP employment and training program
Signed January 16, 2024
A5462 / S3867
Revises law establishing Office of Food Security Advocate, and establishes certain conditions for use of monies appropriated to emergency food organizations
Signed January 16, 2024
A5684 / S4055
Requires certain nonpublic schools to provide meals to all students under “Working Class Families Anti-Hunger Act”; authorizes limited expansion of income eligibility to qualify public and nonpublic school students for free lunch
Signed January 16, 2024
2024-present:
A5263 / S3961
Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to offer no-fee option to parents for making school lunch and other payments; requires payment processing platforms used by certain schools to provide users with information on user fees.
Signed July 8, 2025
A1406 / S2167
Requires public and certain nonpublic schools to comply with breakfast and lunch standards adopted by USDA.
Signed July 22, 2025
