Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateNew JerseyReported
A 5439: Amends Fiscal Year 2027 annual appropriations act to require portion of funding for Working Class Families State Supplement to be used for outreach purposes.
Craig Coughlin
A 5439 status: Reported — Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading (updated Sep 17, 2026).
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
High
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
69OUT OF 100
Score:69/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality100%
Bipartisan80%
Public opinion85%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill amends the FY2027 appropriations act to require the Department of Agriculture to earmark 2.5% of the $15 million Working Class Families State Supplement fund for outreach and informational purposes.
Who is affected
Working-class and middle-income families with household incomes between 186% and 224% of the federal poverty level who are eligible for the school breakfast and lunch program.
Requirements and enforcement
The Department of Agriculture must actively promote awareness of the existing nutrition supplement program using 2.5% of the total appropriation.
Costs and funding
The bill requires an expenditure of $375,000 for outreach activities, sourced from the existing $15 million appropriation.
When it takes effect
The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Potential benefits
Increased enrollment and awareness of essential childhood nutrition programs among eligible families.
Risks and tradeoffs
The diversion of $375,000 from direct food aid to administrative marketing may slightly reduce the total volume of meals served unless outreach significantly increases participation.
What is still unknown
The bill does not specify the methods of outreach or define metrics for measuring the effectiveness of the $375,000 expenditure.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Mixed / Neutral
60%
Benefits
- Increases awareness to ensure state aid utilization
- Stabilizes program participation levels
- Professionalizes administrative engagement
Risks
- Redirects $375,000 from direct meal subsidies
- Increases administrative overhead costs
- Uncertain ROI on outreach activities
Society
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Expands awareness of school nutrition benefits
- Directly supports working-class and middle-income families
- Helps eligible families navigate application requirements
Risks
- Slight reduction in immediate direct service funding
- Potential for outreach to reach ineligible populations
- Success hinges on quality of state communication
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- Legislatively mandates programmatic transparency
- Ensures proactive state communication with citizens
- Provides clearer oversight of appropriation allocation
Risks
- Legislative micromanagement of agency budgets
- Limits Department of Agriculture spending flexibility
- Lack of granular reporting requirements for outreach
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Supports physical health through school breakfasts
- Addresses childhood food insecurity directly
- Ensures eligible children are not missed
Risks
- Less direct funding for food commodities
- Effectiveness dependent on outreach implementation
- Potential for outreach to prioritize speed over quality
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
LegiScan
Official bill text or data from LegiScan.
Confidence
High
Information is complete and verified.
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
The redirection of funds reduces the amount available for direct meal procurement by $375,000.
Analysis scope
Source provided is limited to the introduced text of a single legislative act.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeCurrent
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
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