Urges Governor to declare public health emergency due to ongoing roll-out of federal law.

ACR118

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 118

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Urges Governor to declare public health emergency due
to ongoing roll-out of federal law.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Concurrent Resolution

respectfully urging the Governor to declare a public health emergency due to
the ongoing implementation of the federal �One Big Beautiful Bill Act.�

Whereas,
HR1, also known as the �One Big Beautiful Bill Act,�
Pub. L. 119-21, was passed by the federal government and became law, on July 4,
2025; and

Whereas,
Despite the attempts at patriotism and positive
messaging, the consequences of the federal law will be anything but beautiful
and will have a harmful impact on middle- and working-class American people;
and

Whereas,
The federal law includes over $1 trillion in cuts
to federal health care programs administered by the states; and

Whereas,
New Jersey State could face cuts to SNAP, WIC,
Medicaid, and other socio-economic programs aimed at uplifting and supporting
low-income households; and

Whereas,
New Jersey continues to pay the federal government
more than its fair share of federal taxes; and

Whereas,
For the 2024 fiscal year, the State paid the
federal government approximately $68 billion more than it received back in
federal funding�at a time when the State�s homeless population is increasing
and social services funded partially through federal funds are needed and
desired; and

Whereas,
As the �One Big Beautiful Act� goes into effect,
the approximately 42.7 million student loan borrowers who hold student loan
debt and will be forced to pay back their loans or have their wages garnished
amid rising inflation costs, potentially putting them in need of social
programs that will soon cease to exist; and

Whereas,
Additionally, by eliminating most income-based
repayment plans of federal student loans for new borrowers, the bill targets
those seeking socio-economic mobility; and

Whereas,
The law will cause the State to raise less revenue
while still obligating the State to pay more than its fair share of taxes to
the federal government; and

Whereas,

The �One Big Beautiful Bill
Act� is harmful to the American people and the Governor should take appropriate
action to protect our State and our citizens; now, therefore

����
Be It Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey
(the Senate concurring):

���� 1.��� The New Jersey State
Legislature respectfully urges the Governor to declare a public health
emergency and take any additional actions necessary to protect the State�s
citizens from the ill effects of the federal �One Big Beautiful Bill Act.�

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of the State, shall be transmitted by
the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Office
of the Governor and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution urges the
Governor of New Jersey to declare a public health emergency due to the ongoing
roll-out of the �One Big Beautiful Bill Act.�� The act includes over $1
trillion in cuts to health care programs and social services programs.�

���� As a result of the federal
act, the State could face cuts to SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid while New Jersey
continues to pay a disproportionate share in federal taxes�often receiving
several billions less in federal funds compared to the taxes the State pays to
the federal government.� In 2024, the State received approximately $68 billion
less in federal aid than it paid to the federal government in taxes.

���� The federal act also increases
the fiscal burden of the states for administration of federal programs in
certain circumstances � potentially cutting into the revenues of the State.�
Consequently, the Governor should take appropriate action to protect our State
and our citizens against the harmful impact of the �One Big Beautiful Act� on
the State�s middle- and working-class citizens.