Requires Governor's Office of Volunteerism to promote and support volunteerism for compliance with certain eligibility requirements for NJ FamilyCare and SNAP recipients; appropriates $200,000 to DHS, Office of Volunteerism, and DOLWD.*

The bill now requires modification of the existing HELPNJNOW portal rather than allowing DHS to establish a new web-based tool or database. This narrows implementation flexibility and ties the program to an existing state platform.

A new subsection (2c) requires DHS and DOL to establish a data-sharing system so that volunteer hours and community service earned by SNAP recipients can be shared between departments to collaboratively administer the NJ SNAP ETP (Employment and Training Program). Data sharing agreements are required.

The submission mechanism for volunteer hours was changed from a 'mobile application' to a 'web-based, mobile friendly resource,' broadening the acceptable format beyond a dedicated app.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development is added as a required collaboration partner alongside DHS and the Governor's Office of Volunteerism, both for implementing volunteer resources and for adopting regulations under the bill.

Added language requiring DHS to account for 'any subsequent federal regulations or guidance regarding these statutory requirements,' making the bill's obligations adaptable to future federal rulemaking under OBBBA.

Three new sponsors were added (Quijano, Speight, Walker) and four new co-sponsors (Carter, Brennan, Haider, Sampson), indicating broader legislative support for the bill.

A new section appropriates $50,000 from the General Fund to DHS and $75,000 to the Office of Volunteerism (total $125,000) to effectuate the bill's provisions.

The effective date changed from immediate to a phased schedule: SNAP-related provisions take effect no later than October 1, 2026, and NJ FamilyCare-related provisions take effect no later than October 1, 2027. DHS is also permitted to take anticipatory administrative action before these dates.