STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
Makes FY2026 supplemental appropriation of $30 million from General Fund to Food and Hunger Programs in Department of Agriculture.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, P.L.2025, c.74.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2025, c.74, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
10 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
40 Community Development and Environmental Management
49 Agricultural Resources, Planning, and Regulation
GRANTS-IN-AID
05-3350 Food and Nutrition Services ............................. $30,000,000
Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation,
Agricultural Resources, Planning, and Regulation $30,000,000
Grants-in-Aid:
05 Food and Hunger Programs................ ($30,000,000)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill supplements the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations act to make an appropriation of $30 million from the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, to be used for food and hunger programs. The funds would be distributed to the State’s six regional food banks, which solicit, store, and distribute donations of edible but unmarketable surplus food. The food is then distributed to food pantries and other nonprofit organizations that feed the needy.
In November 2025, due to the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture halted benefit payments under the federal SNAP program, citing insufficient funds. Approximately 800,000, or one in nine, New Jersey residents rely on SNAP benefits to purchase groceries each month. The delay in funding will impact the entire State as food banks become overwhelmed and New Jersey residents stop paying certain bills in order to pay for food. This funding will provide meals to low-income families, senior citizens, disabled individuals, and children throughout the State.