Bill Text: NJ S295 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Revises SNAP application process to include certain notices, and certification and recertification requirements.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S295 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S295-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Senator ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Revises SNAP application process to include certain notices, and certification and recertification requirements.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services shall create a notice for State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants informing applicants of: (1) the eligibility and verification requirements for SNAP, and (2) a county SNAP agency's responsibility to assist the applicant in the application process. The division or the county SNAP agency, as applicable, shall provide this notice to an applicant at the time of application for certification or recertification of SNAP benefits. The information in the notice shall be written at a fourth-grade reading level and in English. In accordance with the provisions of P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), the notice shall be translated into the top seven most common non-English languages in the State, and in any other languages deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Human Services based on SNAP applicant demographics.
b. Subject to the requirements of the federal SNAP law and regulations, SNAP applicants certifying or recertifying eligibility, in addition to any other eligibility requirements, shall self-attest to:
(1) dependent care expenses;
(2) SNAP household composition;
(3) financial resources;
(4) shelter expenses; and
(5) citizenship status.
c. Provided that immigration status is verified as required by federal SNAP law and regulations, additional verification of the information self-attested to in subsection b. of this section shall not be required unless the information is deemed questionable. If the self-attested information is deemed questionable, the applicant shall receive written notice: (1) explaining why the information is questionable; and (2) containing examples of the types of documents the applicant may provide to verify the self-attested information. Pursuant to federal SNAP regulations, the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services shall establish guidelines to follow in determining what is considered questionable information.
d. As used in this act, the "State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" or "SNAP" means the program established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L. 110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.).
2. Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Division of Family Development in the Department of Human Services to create a notice that informs a State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicant of the household eligibility and verification requirements that must be met as part of the SNAP application process. The notice is also required to include information on a county SNAP agency's responsibility in assisting the applicant throughout the application process. This notice is required to be provided in English and written at a fourth-grade reading level. In accordance with the provisions of P.L.2023, c.263 (C.52:14-40 et seq.), the notice will be translated into the top seven most common non-English languages, and in any additional languages necessary as determined by the Commissioner of Human Services.
Additionally, the bill states that applicants, during certification or recertification, can self-attest to:
1. dependent care expenses;
2. SNAP household composition;
3. financial resources;
4. shelter expenses; and
5. citizenship status.
Pursuant to federal regulations, immigration status must be verified; however, additional verification of the above-mentioned self-attestations will not be required unless the information is deemed questionable. If additional verification is required, the SNAP agency must provide the applicant with a written notice: (1) explaining why the information is questionable; and (2) containing examples of the types of documents the applicant may provide for verification of the questionable information.
Lastly, the bill provides that the Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Family Development promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this bill.
