New Jersey S 4189: Clarifies that school district is not required to restrict access to school meals if school meal bill is in arrears.

Bill Text

S4189 

SENATE, No. 4189 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

INTRODUCED MAY 11, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires NJ FamilyCare coverage for healthy food 
prescriptions for certain enrollees. 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� As introduced.

�� 

An Act concerning healthy foods, amending the title and 
body of P.L.2019, c.15, and supplementing P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.).

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The title of P.L.2019, 
c.15 is amended to read as follows:

���� An Act concerning food 
retailers and retail pharmacies, and supplementing Title 24 of the 
Revised Statutes.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.15, title)

���� 2.��� Section 1 of P.L.2019, 
c.15 (C.24:4A-6) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� This act shall be known 
and may be cited as the "Healthy Small Food Retailer and Retail Pharmacy 
Act."

(cf: P.L.2019, c.15, s.1)

���� 3.��� Section 2 of P.L.2019, 
c.15 (C.24:4A-7) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� The Legislature finds 
and declares:

���� a.���� Overweight children and 
adults are at greater risk for numerous adverse health consequences, including 
type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, 
certain cancers, asthma, low self-esteem, depression, and other debilitating 
diseases;

���� b.��� In the United States, 
the medical costs of obesity are rising rapidly with Medicare and Medicaid 
paying roughly half of these obesity-related costs, estimated to be over $100 
billion per year;

���� c.���� Many Americans, 
particularly those in low income neighborhoods, rural areas, and communities of 
color, live in communities that lack adequate access to full-service grocery 
stores, and low income areas have more than twice as many convenience stores 
and four times as many small grocery stores as high income areas;

���� d.��� Small food stores, which 
tend to charge higher prices for food compared to grocery stores and 
supermarkets, have limited supplies of fresh produce, whole grains, and low-fat 
dairy products and frequently sell highly processed foods that are high in fat 
and low in nutrients;

���� e.���� Providing assistance to 
existing small food retailers and retail pharmacies to stock fresh 
produce and other healthy foods that promote good nutrition will better provide 
people with access to healthier foods, and community programs that work with 
these small food retailers have shown promise in increasing healthy food sales, 
improving the quality of store offerings, and promoting good nutrition; and

���� f.���� It is therefore the 
intent of the Legislature to provide support to small food retailers and retail 
pharmacies operating in New Jersey, in both urban and rural areas, to sell 
more fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods at affordable prices 
to neighborhood residents in an effort to improve the health and wellness of 
all New Jerseyans.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.15, s.2)

���� 4.��� Section 3 of P.L.2019, 
c.15 (C.24:4A-8) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� As used P.L.2019, c.15 
(C.24:4A-6 et seq.):

���� "Department" means 
the Department of Health. 

���� �Division� means the 
Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human 
Services.

���� �Food prescription� means a 
prescription, written by a health care provider, for certain foods as a 
treatment for diet-related health conditions. 

���� "Fund" means the 
"Healthy Small Food Retailer and Retail Pharmacy Fund" 
established pursuant to section 5 of [this 
act] �P.L.2019, 
c.15 (C.24:4A-10) and section 6 of P.L.��� , c.��� (pending before the 
Legislature as this bill).

���� "Healthy Corner Store and 
Retail Pharmacy Program" means the program established pursuant to section 
4 of [this 
act] P.L.2019, 
c.15 (C.24:4A-9) and section 5 of P.L.��� , c.���� (pending before the 
Legislature as this bill). 

���� "Low income area" 
means a census tract, as reported in the most recently completed decennial 
census published by the United States Census Bureau, that has a poverty rate of 
at least 20 percent or in which the median family income does not exceed 80 
percent of the Statewide or metropolitan median family income, whichever is 
greater. 

���� "Moderate income 
area" means a census tract, as reported in the most recently completed 
decennial census published by the United States Census Bureau, in which the 
median family income is between 81 and 95 percent of the median family income 
for the area.

���� �NJ FamilyCare� means the 
program established pursuant to P.L.2005, c.156 (C.30:4J-8 et al.), which 
includes the State�s Medicaid Program and the Children�s Health Insurance 
Program.

���� �Retail pharmacy� means any 
establishment, including a community pharmacy, licensed by the State to 
dispense prescription medications directly to patients.

���� "Small food 
retailer" means a s