Gov. Sherrill signs school meal access bill as New Jersey issues summer food benefits to more than 680,000 children

TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Thursday signed legislation requiring public schools to prominently display information about free and reduced-price meal programs on their websites, while also announcing that more than 680,000 New Jersey children will receive Summer EBT food benefits this year.

The new law requires public schools to post a link to the subsidized school meals application and at least one informational video produced by the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate explaining the application process.

State officials said the measure is intended to reduce barriers for families seeking access to school meal programs and help address food insecurity among children.

“While Washington Republicans work to undermine critical elements of our social safety net, here in New Jersey we are laser-focused on ensuring our children have the resources they need to thrive,” said Governor Sherrill. “Every child deserves access to nutritious meals, whether they are in the classroom or at home during the summer. This legislation will make it easier for families to find and access school meal programs by ensuring information is readily available when they need it. At the same time, we are continuing our commitment to fighting food insecurity by providing Summer EBT benefits to more than 681,000 New Jersey children, helping families put food on the table even while school is out of session. We will continue doing everything we can to ensure no child in New Jersey goes hungry simply because their family cannot navigate additional red tape.”

According to the governor’s office, nearly 689,000 New Jersey students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, including more than 456,000 who are automatically enrolled through participation in programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.

The legislation, A3882/S3426, comes as state officials raise concerns that changes at the federal level could make it more difficult for some families to access government assistance programs and school meal benefits.

Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin praised the legislation’s focus on increasing access to nutrition programs.

“As the fight against food insecurity evolves, so too must our efforts to ensure that the programs created and designed to help people reach those who need them most,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “Over the past several years, New Jersey has expanded free school meal eligibility to reach more than 70,000 additional students and made historic investments in our food system because we know that when children have access to nutritious meals, they are better set up to learn and reach their full potential in the classroom. At a time when others have stepped back from the fight against hunger, I’m proud knowing that here in New Jersey we continue to stand up and pass legislation that meets families where they are, because every child deserves the opportunity to succeed.”

Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz said the legislation will help connect families with available resources.

“At a time of rising food insecurity, closing information gaps and reducing application barriers is a simple step we can take to better connect families with the nutrition support they need,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “An empty stomach makes it harder for students to be fully engaged in the classroom, and for many children, a school breakfast or lunch is their most dependable source of daily nutrition. Making the application for school meals more accessible will help ensure students are properly nourished and enter the classroom ready to learn and succeed.”

Mark Dinglasan, executive director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, said the law will make it easier for families to access benefits.

“This legislation is a meaningful step forward for New Jersey families facing food insecurity. By ensuring the school meal application is visible and accessible on every school website, we are giving parents back valuable time — time they can spend caring for their children rather than navigating complex systems,” said Dinglasan. “I’m grateful to Governor Sherrill for her leadership and to Speaker Coughlin, Senator Ruiz, and our partners in the legislature for championing this important bill. Families that face food insecurity often do not have the bandwidth to sift through mountains of information just to access benefits they are entitled to. This legislation is a testament to New Jersey’s, and the Sherrill Administration’s, commitment to meeting families on their journey towards building better and healthier lives for themselves.”

The governor also announced that more than 680,000 eligible children will begin receiving Summer EBT benefits in the coming days. The program provides a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible child to help families purchase food during the summer months when school meals are unavailable.

New Jersey Education Commissioner Lily Laux said increasing access to school meals helps students succeed.

“When students have access to the supports they need, they are better able to focus on learning,” said New Jersey Education Commissioner Lily Laux. “This bill will make it easier for families to access school meals information so more students receive the support they need to succeed in safe, supportive schools.”

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said the legislation and Summer EBT program will help connect more families with nutrition assistance.

“The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, is committed to making sure more children have access to the nutritious meals they need to learn, grow, and thrive,” said Wengryn. “Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school day nourished and ready to succeed, and this legislation strengthens our ability to connect eligible students and families with critical benefits. Expanded communication means school meals programs and Summer EBT benefits reach children across the state ensuring more New Jersey families receive the support they need. Feeding our children is one of the most important investments we can make in their health, education, and future.”

Advocates for hunger relief also welcomed the measure.

“I want to thank Governor Sherrill for signing this important legislation and taking a meaningful step in our fight against hunger and food insecurity,” said Lisa Pitz, director of Hunger Free New Jersey. “This progress would not be possible without strong champions. We commend Speaker Coughlin, Assemblywoman Quijano, and Assemblyman Hutchinson for their leadership and continued commitment to expanding school meal access and reducing food insecurity across the Garden State. By removing barriers and making it easier for parents to complete the school meal application process, this legislation will help more children access free breakfast and lunch at school, providing the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive.”

Elizabeth McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, said school meals remain a critical resource for families.

“The Community FoodBank of New Jersey remains grateful to Speaker Craig Coughlin, Governor Mikie Sherrill, and the entire state legislature for continuing to lead the way in hunger relief and prioritizing the needs of our neighbors facing food insecurity — especially children,” said McCarthy. “Cuts and changes to SNAP have already forced tens of thousands of New Jerseyans off the program, leaving families with less food on their tables and making access to school meals more important than ever. No child should miss out on healthy meals because their family doesn’t know that help is available. This commonsense bill will connect more eligible families to a critical source of nutrition that supports children’s health, learning, and success.”

Families can continue applying for school meal and Summer EBT benefits through their local school districts throughout the summer.