Bill Text: NJ A5345 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Streamlines application and extends certification period for SNAP for certain populations; allows for low-cost or free delivery in certain instances.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-28 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee [A5345 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5345-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BRIAN BERGEN
District 26 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Streamlines application and extends certification period for SNAP for certain populations; allows for low-cost or free delivery in certain instances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and supplementing and amending Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2021, c.243 (C.44:10-81.3) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The Commissioner of Human Services, to the maximum extent permissible under federal law, shall review and streamline the SNAP application process, as provided in this section. The goal of the streamlining process shall be to maximize the enrollment of eligible SNAP participants in New Jersey by increasing the accessibility of the SNAP application. To the maximum extent permissible, the commissioner shall also streamline the application process for households in which all adult members are elderly or disabled.
b. In streamlining the SNAP application process, as required by this section, the commissioner shall, at a minimum, update the online application system to ensure the system employs current technology and is user friendly, with features that include, but are not limited to, easy account creation, easy user access, and easy tracking of an applicant's application status.
c. The Department of Human Services, working in consultation and cooperation with appropriate advocacy organizations, shall engage in comprehensive outreach efforts to ensure that New Jersey residents are made aware of their ability to apply for and obtain SNAP benefits through a streamlined and expedited process. At a minimum, the department shall provide outreach at all health care facilities, social service agencies that serve seniors in the State, and other organizations focused on food assistance, and shall use all available media, including print, radio, television, and the Internet, to inform residents of the availability of the streamlined SNAP application process established pursuant to this section.
A State agency that provides social services to individuals 60 years of age or older shall screen such clients for eligibility for SNAP and assist the client with enrollment into the program.
d. The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement the provisions of this section.
e. As used in this section:
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
"Elderly or disabled" means the same as the term is defined in section 3 of the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2012).
"SNAP" means the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.2022, c.26, s.2)
2. Section 1 of P.L.2023, c.145 (C.44:10-81.7a) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. [The] To the extent permissible by federal law, the Commissioner of Human Services shall establish a standard certification period of not less than 12 months within SNAP, except that the certification period shall be not less than [24] 36 months if all adult household members are elderly or disabled provided that all certified households shall have contact with a State SNAP administering agency at least once every 12 months. These certification periods shall not apply to initial certification periods for expedited benefit issuance or if a shorter certification period is necessary to align with the certification period of another program or to ensure the proper issuance of benefits.
b. The Commissioner shall apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement the provisions of this section.
c. As used in this section:
"Certification period" means the period for which households shall be eligible to receive SNAP benefits.
"Elderly or disabled" means the same as defined in section 3 of the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2012).
"SNAP" means the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.2023, c.145, s.1)
3. (New section) a. To the extent permissible by federal and State law, the Commissioner of Human Services shall authorize the use of and may enter into public-private partnerships to allow for free or low-cost delivery of SNAP-eligible foods to a SNAP participant that is a housebound senior aged 60 years or older. The commissioner shall ensure that such participants spend no more than three percent or $30, whichever is less, of their monthly allotment of SNAP benefits on delivery fees of SNAP-eligible foods.
b. The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply to the Food and Nutrition Service within the United States Department of Agriculture for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
4. The Commissioner of Human Services, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations as necessary to effectuate the provisions of this act.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would amend the State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) law to allow certain New Jersey residents who are elderly or disabled access to a streamlined application and require recertification every 36 months, to the extent permissible under federal law. Under the bill, a State agency that provides social services to seniors would be required to screen clients for eligibility for SNAP and assist the client with enrollment into the program.
The bill also permits the Commissioner of Human Services to authorize the use of or enter into public-private partnerships to allow for the low-cost or free delivery of SNAP-eligible foods to SNAP participants who are housebound seniors aged 60 years or older. The maximum delivery fee for these participants would be no more than three percent or $30, whichever is less, of their monthly allotment of SNAP benefits.
