The New Jersey Assembly approved legislation today aimed at helping more than two million residents comply with new federal work requirements that could jeopardize their access to health care and food assistance.

The legislation would expand the state’s volunteer network and streamline the process for residents receiving NJ FamilyCare and SNAP to find and log qualifying volunteer hours, a compliance pathway under the federal law signed by President Trump last year.

The bill was sponsored by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Assembly members Annette Quijano, Shanique Speight and Jerry Walker.

The legislation comes in response to H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which President Trump signed into law on Independence Day, 2025.

The law requires most adults receiving Medicaid and food stamp benefits to work, attend school or volunteer, and mandates that beneficiaries recertify their eligibility twice a year — up from once annually.

Supporters warn the new requirements could cause thousands of eligible residents to lose benefits not because they fail to qualify, but because of confusion over compliance rules or difficulty submitting documentation.

“For a parent working two jobs, a senior on a fixed income, or someone dealing with a health issue, navigating new and expanded mandates can be the difference between keeping benefits and losing them,” Coughlin said.

Under the bill, the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism would work alongside the Department of Human Services and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to expand the state’s volunteer resources.

The state’s HELPNJNOW portal would be updated to allow residents to search for qualifying volunteer opportunities and submit their hours electronically.

New Jersey currently provides the highest monthly SNAP minimum benefit in the country.