ADVOCACY UPDATE

September 10, 2026

In this update:

• Trump Administration proposes drastic changes to U.S. Census

• Congress passes legislation delaying effective date of proposed OMB regulations 

• National Voter Registration Day is September 15!

• Governor signs legislation to boost volunteerism opportunities in compliance with federal Medicaid, SNAP work requirements

• Center gears up for fall push for government grants legislation

• Save the date! NJ Nonprofits Conference December 2

• Welcome our new Government Affairs Specialist and Office Manager!

Trump Administration proposes drastic changes to U.S. Census

Background

In accordance with the U.S. Constitution, the Census is undertaken every ten years to count the population of the United States. A host of vital policy and budget decisions, from the number of Congressional Representatives and electoral votes assigned to each state to billions of dollars in funding for infrastructure, public safety, social programs and much more, are based on Census data.

Getting the Census right is important for all American communities – particularly those most likely to be undercounted. When populations are undercounted, it affects our democracy, our state’s representation in federal government, and funding for vital purposes. But it also affects nonprofits, because when populations are undercounted and critical needs are underfunded, the pressure mounts on already overstressed nonprofits to address these unmet needs.

The New Proposal

Several proposed changes in the proposal would harm efforts to secure a complete Census count:

• Citizenship Question: The administration proposes the addition of a question asking if each resident is a citizen of the United States.  The addition of a citizenship question has long been sought by the Trump Administration, which attempted to add it in 2020 but was blocked by the courts.  Advocates have feared, and research suggests, that this question would result in undercounts of significant segments of the population, including foreign-born residents or communities of color. 
• Exclusion of undocumented immigrants, refugees or asylum seekers without permanent residency:  Under the proposal, residents who are not citizens or do not hold green cards would not be counted in the Census. This provision seems to conflict with the 14th Amendment requirement that the Census count "whole number of persons in each state".
• Removal of questions regarding race, ethnicity and sexual orientation:  The proposed regulations would eliminate questions regarding race, ethnicity and sexual orientation from the short form decennial questionnaire or “any questionnaire used for the enumeration of the population.” According to many sources, questions regarding race and ethnicity have been part of the Census since 1790.  

The implications of these changes are profound, especially in states like New Jersey with diverse populations and high proportions of immigrants. Excluding large swaths of residents could result in significant losses of federal funding and possible loss of Congressional seats, and increase service burdens on state and local governments and nonprofits.  

The deadline for public comment on the proposal is October 13, 2026. It is certain to face legal challenges if it is adopted. We will share additional updates and action steps shortly.

More information (NPR)

Congress passes legislation delaying effective date of proposed OMB regulations 

As reported by the https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/nonprofit-champion-september-8-2026-0, President Trump has signed a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by Congress to keep the federal government open and funded through December 11, 2026. The CR includes bipartisan legislative language to temporarily delay implementation of a proposed regulation from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to overhaul federal grantmaking.

This proposal, which garnered widespread opposition from a broad array of constituencies, would overhaul the framework governing the awarding and management of federal government grants and financial assistance to state and local governments, nonprofits, and others.  The regulations would impose a series of alarming changes that would cause significant harms to grantees and the people and communities they serve.  Under the original proposal, the regulations were slated to take effect October 1, 2026. The CR delays the effective date until December 11, but would not otherwise block the regulations.

The delay is a welcome development and the result of hard work by many advocates.  But more work will be needed to prevent these regulations from being implemented. Continue to share with your Congressional representatives the impact these regulations would have on your program and communities. We will keep you posted regarding additional advocacy efforts and how you can be involved.

Read the Center's comments opposing the proposal here.

National Voter Registration Day is September 15!

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan, coordinated civic effort focused on getting Americans registered to vote. This year, Nonprofit Voter Registration Day is September 15. As a reminder, nonprofits can engage in a wide array of nonpartisan voter engagement efforts.  Watch your email in the coming days for an updated voter engagement resource for New Jersey nonprofits from the Center in partnership with Nonprofit VOTE and the National Council of Nonprofits!

Governor signs legislation to boost volunteerism opportunities in compliance with federal Medicaid, SNAP work requirements

A-3883 (Coughlin/Quijano) / S-3811 (Ruiz/Deignan) directs the New Jersey Office of Volunteerism to work with the state Department of Human Services and Department of Labor and Workforce Development to expand volunteer resources to make them more readily accessible to Family Care or SNAP recipients.

The sweeping federal tax reform bill passed last year (H.R. 1, also referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) created a series of stricter eligibility and work requirements for many SNAP and Medicaid recipients. While the changes in the SNAP program are already in effect, the work requirements for Medicaid recipients are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027. When the rules are fully implemented, recipients who aren’t exempt from the requirements will have to demonstrate that they are working at least 80 hours per month in order to maintain benefits. Volunteer activities may count toward the work requirement. 

The new state legislation is designed to make it easier for people to find volunteer opportunities by enhancing volunteer resources and the HELPNJNOW portal to allow the public to search and apply for bona fide volunteer opportunities that comply with federal requirements and submit their volunteer hours.

For additional details regarding the federal work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP in H.R. 1, see this Human Services Work Requirement Crosswalk from the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA).

We want to hear from you.  Is your organization already involved in efforts to facilitate compliance with the new requirements in New Jersey, either through paid work or volunteerism? Would you be interested in information as it becomes available? What would be most useful to you? Please contact Jessica Lipper, jlipper@njnonprofits.org, with your thoughts. We’ll share more information as it becomes available.

Center gears up for fall push for government grants legislation 

The New Jersey Center for Nonprofits is gearing up for a fall campaign to push for the enactment of legislation that would significantly improve the government grants and contracting processes in New Jersey.  A-3492 and A-3495, sponsored by Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, and S-3924 and S-2856, sponsored by Senator Angela McKnight, would implement a series of reforms to the processes that nonprofits undergo when they apply for or receive state government funds and would establish an ombudsperson to field inquiries and provide assistance to nonprofits that are experiencing problems. The legislation was heard previously at a "discussion only" hearing, where a number of nonprofit witnesses shared eye-opening testimony about their experiences.

The New Jersey Center for Nonprofits strongly supports these bills and will continue to work vigorously for their passage. This advocacy is not new to New Jersey’s nonprofit community. Find out more about the legislation here. For more information or if you’d like to get involved, contact Jessica Lipper at jlipper@njnonprofits.org.

SAVE THE DATE!
NJ Nonprofits Conference | December 2

Your “don’t miss” nonprofit conference returns December 2 in Somerset, NJ!
Stay tuned, and mark your calendar!

Center members will receive a special advance opportunity to register in mid-October before registration is open to the public.
Not a member yet? Join today! 

Power What's Possible. Sponsor the Conference.

Welcome our new Government Affairs Specialist and Office Manager!

The Center is excited to welcome two new staff members:

Jessica Lipper joined our staff as Government Affairs Specialist last month. Jessica brings nearly two decades of leadership in public policy, Medicaid strategy, maternal-child health, and child and family well-being. Throughout her career, she has secured multimillion-dollar legislative appropriations, directed complex fiscal oversight, and leveraged legislative tracking platforms and financial modeling to navigate evolving regulatory landscapes. Her expertise blends deep mastery of state legislative processes with cross-sector coalition building, ensuring that healthcare and human services policies are both fiscally sound and structurally sound.

A dedicated advocate for equity, Jessica is passionate about supporting organizations advancing systems-level reforms that uplift at-risk and under-resourced populations, and she does this by bridging high-level government affairs with community-driven action. She holds a B.A. from William Paterson University and a Master of Science in Jurisprudence in Health Law from Seton Hall University School of Law, and is a 2021 Lead New Jersey Fellow. A lifelong New Jerseyan and mother of two boys, she actively volunteers for community causes that are close to her heart.

Rokiatu (Roki) Davies, Office Manager, joined our team on August 3, and brings years of experience working in the nonprofit sector, with a background in office administration, membership services, customer service, and operations. Throughout her career, Roki has supported members, coordinated administrative processes, and collaborated across teams to ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly. She is passionate about helping others, solving problems, and providing exceptional service to colleagues and stakeholders alike. Inspired by the impact nonprofits have on their communities, she hopes to one day launch a nonprofit organization.
 
Roki holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University. She is excited to continue growing her career while supporting New Jersey’s nonprofit community. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the movies, exploring art, traveling, watching science documentaries, and learning random facts about just about everything. A self-described homebody, Roki is happiest relaxing at home, though her family and friends can usually persuade her to venture out for a great meal or a new adventure.

We're glad to have Jessica and Roki on our team as we continue to work for a thriving nonprofit community for all New Jerseyans. 

"As nonprofits, our entire reason for being is to make society better by our missions and deeds.

As part of that promise, we have a responsibility to advance an equitable society, to shine a bright light on the harsh reality of systemic racism and injustice and to actively work against it."

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Information in this communication does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. For answers to specific questions concerning your situation, you should consult a knowledgeable attorney who can advise you regarding your particular circumstances.