This bill requires several State agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Community Affairs, and Human Services, as well as the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), to conduct a review of income eligibility thresholds for various public assistance, school nutrition, and higher education financial assistance programs. The review will determine if the State has the authority to raise these thresholds under State and federal law and whether programs funded by federal block grants can accommodate additional beneficiaries. If the agencies find they have the authority and sufficient funding, they must increase the income eligibility standards by the total percentage increase in the State's minimum wage since January 1, 2019, along with a cost of living adjustment.

Furthermore, the bill includes an appropriation from the General Fund to support the implementation of these provisions. It highlights the necessity of adjusting income eligibility standards in response to rising living costs and the increasing State minimum wage, which have not been reflected in current assistance program thresholds. The bill aims to ensure that working families can access essential support for basic needs, including food, housing, and education, while also mandating a programmatic review of various assistance programs to assess their capacity to accommodate newly eligible participants.