New Jersey 222nd Legislature Status: Introduced 5 D cosponsors

A 4799 — Requires NJ FamilyCare coverage for healthy food prescriptions for certain enrollees.

Last action — REP/ACA REF AAP

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed General Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced March 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    3 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill requires NJ FamilyCare to cover healthy food prescriptions for some enrollees.

The bill mandates NJ FamilyCare to provide coverage for healthy food prescriptions for certain eligible individuals. This aims to improve health outcomes by making nutritious food more accessible.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families enrolled in NJ FamilyCare may have access to coverage for prescriptions of healthy foods.

Summary

Healthy food prescriptions-req NJ FamilyCare coverage for certain enrollees

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

7 added · 7 removed

Plain-language change summary

The new version of the bill has added a reference to "staple foods" and removed the word "nutritional" before "other." This change clarifies the types of foods being discussed in the bill and may affect how food categories are defined or managed under the legislation.

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Latest
A4799 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.
A4799 2R [Second Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.
  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee on May 7, 2026, with amendments.
  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee on September 14, 2026, with amendments.
     d.    nutritional supplements, as identified by the Commissioner of Human Services in consultation with the Commissioner of Health;
2and2      d.    2[nutritional supplements, as identified by the Commissioner of Human Services in consultation with the Commissioner of Health;
and      e.     other medically-appropriate grocery items as identified by the Commissioner of Human Services in consultation with the Commissioner of Health1 .
and      e.]2 other medically-appropriate grocery items as identified by the Commissioner of Human Services in consultation with the Commissioner of Health1 .
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How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 7 section(s) of the New Jersey statutes: N.J.S.A. 24:4A-6; N.J.S.A. 24:4A-7; N.J.S.A. 24:4A-8; N.J.S.A. 24:4A-9; N.J.S.A. 24:4A-10; N.J.S.A. 24:4A-11.

  • N.J.S.A. 24:4A-6

    and Retail Pharmacy

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 24:4A-7

    and retail pharmacies and retail pharmacies

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 24:4A-8

    certain ⟦INS⟧nutritional supplements, as identified by the Commissioner of Human Services in consultation with the Commissioner of Health; and⟦/INS⟧ ⟦INS⟧e.⟦/INS⟧ this act this act → "Diet-related medical condition" means Type II diabetes, hypertension, or obesity. "Division" means the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services in the Department of Human Services. for a NJ FamilyCare enrollee the following : a. fresh fruits; b. fresh vegetables; c. culturally-appropriate staple foods; and d. nutritional supplements, as identified by the Commissioner of Human Services in consultation with the Commissioner of Health; and e. other medically-appropriate grocery items as identified by the Commissioner of Human Services in consultation with the Commissioner of Health . and Retail Pharmacy P.L.2019, c.15 (C.24:4A-10) and section 6 of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and Retail Pharmacy P.L.2019, c.15 (C.24:4A-9) and section 5 of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) "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.

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 24:4A-9

    ⟦INS⟧pursuant. to subsection a. of section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)⟦/INS⟧ this act and department's and this act and → , in collaboration with the division, and Retail Pharmacy : (1) and retail pharmacies ; and (2) 1 to the extent allowable under the State's federally-approved Medicaid waiver, enable an NJ FamilyCare enrollee, for whom a licensed health care provider has written a food prescription, to fill the prescription at a retail pharmacy pursuant. to subsection a. of section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) that is an approved NJ FamilyCare provider and that participates in the "Healthy Corner Store and Retail Pharmacy Program," as amended by P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). This benefit shall be designed to reduce overall NJ FamilyCare expenditures through improved management of diet-related conditions . in collaboration with the division and retail pharmacies and Retail Pharmacy P.L.2019, c.15 (C.24:4A-10) and retail pharmacies in the case of a retail pharmacy, are or agree to apply to become an approved NJ FamilyCare provider as a condition of receiving assistance; and; (d) , established by the department and the division, and the division P.L.2019, c.115 (C.24:4A-6 et seq.) , retail pharmacy, or retail pharmacy and retail pharmacies and retail pharmacies; and (d) ensure that small food retailers and retail pharmacies selected for assistance are accessible for community members; and (6) present a plan to engage in public awareness and community outreach concerning the availability of healthy foods at participating small food retailers and retail pharmacies , in collaboration with the division, or a retail pharmacy or retail pharmacy or a retail pharmacy or a retail pharmacy and retail pharmacies and retail pharmacies e. In implementing the provisions of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section, the Department of Human Services, in conjunction with the Department of Health, shall, to the extent practicable, prioritize partnerships with local farmers and food suppliers in filling food prescriptions for NJ FamilyCare enrollees. f. (1) The Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Health, shall engage with stakeholders, including health care providers, Medicaid managed care organizations, food retailers, retail pharmacies, and community based organizations in implementing the requirements under paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section. (2) Where practicable and permissible under federal and State law, the Department of Human Services shall engage with community-based organizations and community health workers to provide NJ FamilyCare enrollees receiving food prescriptions pursuant to subsection a. of this section with educational resources, encourage compliance, and facilitate enrollees' access to prescribed foods. g. The Department of Human Services shall monitor: (1) the number of food prescriptions written pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section for, and filled by, NJ FamilyCare enrollees who have a diet-related medical condition; (2) any improvements in access to healthy foods for NJ FamilyCare enrollees; and (3) health outcomes for NJ FamilyCare enrollees who receive food prescriptions pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section. h. In implementing the provisions of paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section, the Department of Human Services shall incorporate program integrity safeguards, including: (1) a process to verify participant eligibility for the program; (2) utilization review; and (3) periodic audits to prevent program fraud, waste, and abuse. i. The Department of Human Services shall report annually to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), concerning: (1) the number of NJ FamilyCare enrollees for whom a food prescription was dispensed under paragraph (2) of subsection a. of this section; (2) health outcomes for those NJ FamilyCare enrollees who filled their food prescriptions; (3) State costs to provide prescribed foods for NJ F

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 24:4A-10

    this act this act keep of $5,000 → and Retail Pharmacy and Retail Pharmacy P.L.2019, c.15 (C.24:4A-9) and section 5 of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and retail pharmacies , P.L.2019, c.15 (C.24:4A-6 et seq.) and P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill and retail pharmacists or pharmacy staff storage, transportation, or a retail pharmacy or distribute perishable $6,000 or retail pharmacy and retail pharmacies or pharmacy and retail pharmacies

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 24:4A-11

    ⟦INS⟧4⟦/INS⟧ this act → and the division and retail pharmacy the number and amount of any Medicaid claims for food prescriptions filled pursuant to section 4 5 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), or the division P.L.2019, c.15 (C.24:4A-9) and section 5 of P.L. , c. and retail pharmacies , in collaboration with the division, , in collaboration with the division,

    amended

  • N.J.S.A. 24:4A-12

    and retail pharmacies and Retail Pharmacy and Retail Pharmacy

    amended

Action History

  1. REP/ACA REF AAP

  2. REP/ACA REF AHU

  3. INT 1RA REF ACF

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 114 not signed on · 2 voted No

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (114)

114 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 114 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
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Frequently asked questions

What does A 4799 do?
Healthy food prescriptions-req NJ FamilyCare coverage for certain enrollees
Who sponsors A 4799?
A 4799 is sponsored by Stewart, Kenyatta (Democrat), Abdelaziz, Al (Democrat), Haider, Shama A. (Democrat), Donlon, Margie, Speight, Shanique (Democrat), and Bhalla, Ravi S. (Democrat).
What is the current status of A 4799?
This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced March 23, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track A 4799?
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