Calls upon federal government to permit use of SNAP and WIC benefits to pay for diaper purchases.

SR83

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 83

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Calls upon federal government to permit use of SNAP
and WIC benefits to pay for diaper purchases.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Senate
Resolution

calling upon the federal
government to permit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and
Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infant, and
Children benefits to pay for diaper purchases.

Whereas,

Diapers are critical to the health of infants and toddlers and the economic and
emotional health of families; and

Whereas,

Without enough diapers each day, infants and toddlers are at risk of skin
infections, open sores, urinary tract infections, and other conditions that may
require medical attention; and

Whereas,

Many families struggle to meet their diaper needs.� Infants go through 10 to 12
diapers each day, and toddlers go through six to eight diapers each day, costing
families an average of $70 to $80 a month; and

Whereas,

One in three mothers report that at times they do not have enough diapers to
keep their child clean, dry, and healthy; and

Whereas,

This forces many parents to take unsafe measures, with 48 percent of food bank clients
who used diapers responding that they delayed changing a diaper to make their
supply last longer, and 32 percent tried reusing a disposable diaper; and

Whereas,

Purchasing diapers also creates an additional economic barrier for working
families as most child care providers require parents to provide diapers; and

Whereas,

Diapers alone can consume six percent of the salary of a full-time working
parent earning a minimum wage. �Even if the family receives a child care
subsidy, parents may not be able to afford enough diapers to enroll their child,
forcing them out of the job market; and

Whereas,

Meanwhile, there is very little support for families struggling with diaper
need.� Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infant, and Children (WIC)
benefits cannot be used for diapers, and if a family receives cash assistance
through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which can be used
for the purchase of diapers, the monthly diaper bill can consume up to 40
percent of that assistance in some states; and

Whereas,

Permitting the use of SNAP and WIC benefits to pay for diaper purchases will
reduce diaper need

and help to promote
better health outcomes for children and better economic outcomes for their
families; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey:

���� 1.� This House respectfully
calls upon the federal government to permit the use of Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for
Women, Infant, and Children benefits to pay for diaper purchases in order to reduce
diaper need and help to promote better health outcomes for children and better
economic outcomes for their families.

���� 2.� Copies of this resolution,
as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of
the Senate to the President of the United States, the Secretary of the United
States Department of Health and Human Services, and every member of the New
Jersey Congressional delegation.

STATEMENT

����
Diapers are critical to the health of infant
s and toddlers and
th
e economic and emotional health of families.�
One in three mothers report that at times they do not have enough diapers to
keep their child clean, dry, and healthy.� Without enough diapers each day,
infants and toddlers are at risk of skin infections, open sores, urinary tract
infections, and other conditions that may require medical attention.

���� Purchasing diapers also
creates an additional economic barrier for working families as most child care
providers require parents to provide diapers.�
Diapers alone can consume
six

percent of the salary
of a
full-time
working parent earning a minimum wage. �
Even if the family receives a
child care subsidy, parents may not be able to afford enough diapers to enroll
their child, forcing them out of the job market.

���� Many families struggle to meet
their diaper needs.� Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and
Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infant, and
Children (WIC) benefits cannot be used for diapers.� This resolution calls upon
the federal government to permit the use of SNAP and WIC benefits to pay for
diaper purchases in order to reduce diaper need and help to promote better
health outcomes for children and economic outcomes for their families.