Supplements FY2026 Appropriations Act; makes $10 million off-budget appropriation to NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program.

This bill adds $10 million in off-budget funding from the Universal Service Fund to New Jersey's NJSHARES-S.M.A.R.T. Program for the 2026 fiscal year. It provides utility payment assistance, including help with past-due bills (arrearages), to eligible homeowners and tenants facing financial hardship. The Commissioner of Community Affairs will establish quick-processing guidelines to award grants, but applicants cannot receive duplicate aid from private insurance or other existing programs. This supplemental funding builds on a prior $5 million appropriation for the same program.