diff --git a/src/cmd/flux-account-priority-update.py b/src/cmd/flux-account-priority-update.py
index 10b21854..f9031b54 100755
--- a/src/cmd/flux-account-priority-update.py
+++ b/src/cmd/flux-account-priority-update.py
@@ -71,12 +71,14 @@ def bulk_update(path):
     data = {}
     bulk_user_data = []
     bulk_q_data = []
+    bulk_proj_data = []
 
     # fetch all rows from association_table (will print out tuples)
     for row in cur.execute(
         """SELECT userid, bank, default_bank,
            fairshare, max_running_jobs, max_active_jobs,
-           queues, active FROM association_table"""
+           queues, active, projects, default_project
+           FROM association_table"""
     ):
         # create a JSON payload with the results of the query
         single_user_data = {
@@ -88,6 +90,8 @@ def bulk_update(path):
             "max_active_jobs": int(row[5]),
             "queues": str(row[6]),
             "active": int(row[7]),
+            "projects": str(row[8]),
+            "def_project": str(row[9]),
         }
         bulk_user_data.append(single_user_data)
 
@@ -111,6 +115,17 @@ def bulk_update(path):
 
     flux.Flux().rpc("job-manager.mf_priority.rec_q_update", json.dumps(data)).get()
 
+    # fetch all rows from project_table
+    for row in cur.execute("SELECT project FROM project_table"):
+        # create a JSON payload with the results of the query
+        single_project = {
+            "project": str(row[0]),
+        }
+        bulk_proj_data.append(single_project)
+
+    data = {"data": bulk_proj_data}
+    flux.Flux().rpc("job-manager.mf_priority.rec_proj_update", data).get()
+
     flux.Flux().rpc("job-manager.mf_priority.reprioritize")
 
     # close DB connection
diff --git a/src/plugins/accounting.cpp b/src/plugins/accounting.cpp
index 6282724c..070e1309 100644
--- a/src/plugins/accounting.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/accounting.cpp
@@ -187,3 +187,23 @@ bool check_map_for_dne_only (std::map<int, std::map<std::string, Association>>
 
     return true;
 }
+
+
+int get_project_info (const char *project,
+                      std::vector<std::string> &permissible_projects,
+                      std::vector<std::string> projects)
+{
+    auto it = std::find (projects.begin (), projects.end (), project);
+    if (it == projects.end ())
+        // project is unknown to flux-accounting
+        return UNKNOWN_PROJECT;
+
+    it = std::find (permissible_projects.begin (),
+                    permissible_projects.end (),
+                    project);
+    if (it == permissible_projects.end ())
+        // association doesn't have access to submit jobs under this project
+        return INVALID_PROJECT;
+
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/accounting.hpp b/src/plugins/accounting.hpp
index 0b9bf2f7..1fe5f76c 100644
--- a/src/plugins/accounting.hpp
+++ b/src/plugins/accounting.hpp
@@ -32,16 +32,18 @@ extern "C" {
 class Association {
 public:
     // attributes
-    std::string bank_name;           // name of bank
-    double fairshare;                // fair share value
-    int max_run_jobs;                // max number of running jobs
-    int cur_run_jobs;                // current number of running jobs 
-    int max_active_jobs;             // max number of active jobs
-    int cur_active_jobs;             // current number of active jobs
-    std::vector<long int> held_jobs; // list of currently held job ID's
-    std::vector<std::string> queues; // list of accessible queues
-    int queue_factor;                // priority factor associated with queue
-    int active;                      // active status
+    std::string bank_name;             // name of bank
+    double fairshare;                  // fair share value
+    int max_run_jobs;                  // max number of running jobs
+    int cur_run_jobs;                  // current number of running jobs
+    int max_active_jobs;               // max number of active jobs
+    int cur_active_jobs;               // current number of active jobs
+    std::vector<long int> held_jobs;   // list of currently held job ID's
+    std::vector<std::string> queues;   // list of accessible queues
+    int queue_factor;                  // priority factor associated with queue
+    int active;                        // active status
+    std::vector<std::string> projects; // list of accessible projects
+    std::string def_project;           // default project
 
     // methods
     json_t* to_json () const;    // convert object to JSON string
@@ -56,6 +58,12 @@ class Association {
 #define NO_QUEUE_SPECIFIED 0
 #define INVALID_QUEUE -6
 
+// - UNKNOWN_PROJECT: a project that flux-accounting doesn't know about
+// - INVALID_PROJECT: a project that the association doesn't have permission
+// to charge jobs under
+#define UNKNOWN_PROJECT -6
+#define INVALID_PROJECT -7
+
 // min_nodes_per_job, max_nodes_per_job, and max_time_per_job are not
 // currently used or enforced in this plugin, so their values have no
 // effect in queue limit enforcement.
@@ -96,4 +104,9 @@ bool check_map_for_dne_only (std::map<int, std::map<std::string, Association>>
                                &users,
                              std::map<int, std::string> &users_def_bank);
 
+// validate a potentially passed-in project by an association
+int get_project_info (const char *project,
+                      std::vector<std::string> &permissible_projects,
+                      std::vector<std::string> projects);
+
 #endif // ACCOUNTING_H
diff --git a/src/plugins/mf_priority.cpp b/src/plugins/mf_priority.cpp
index 38971d0c..59907c62 100644
--- a/src/plugins/mf_priority.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/mf_priority.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ extern "C" {
 std::map<int, std::map<std::string, Association>> users;
 std::map<std::string, Queue> queues;
 std::map<int, std::string> users_def_bank;
+std::vector<std::string> projects;
 
 /******************************************************************************
  *                                                                            *
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ static void rec_update_cb (flux_t *h,
                            const flux_msg_t *msg,
                            void *arg)
 {
-    char *bank, *def_bank, *assoc_queues = NULL;
+    char *bank, *def_bank, *assoc_queues, *projects, *def_project = NULL;
     int uid, max_running_jobs, max_active_jobs = 0;
     double fshare = 0.0;
     json_t *data, *jtemp = NULL;
@@ -232,7 +233,8 @@ static void rec_update_cb (flux_t *h,
         json_t *el = json_array_get(data, i);
 
         if (json_unpack_ex (el, &error, 0,
-                            "{s:i, s:s, s:s, s:F, s:i, s:i, s:s, s:i}",
+                            "{s:i, s:s, s:s, s:F, s:i,"
+                            " s:i, s:s, s:i, s:s, s:s}",
                             "userid", &uid,
                             "bank", &bank,
                             "def_bank", &def_bank,
@@ -240,7 +242,9 @@ static void rec_update_cb (flux_t *h,
                             "max_running_jobs", &max_running_jobs,
                             "max_active_jobs", &max_active_jobs,
                             "queues", &assoc_queues,
-                            "active", &active) < 0)
+                            "active", &active,
+                            "projects", &projects,
+                            "def_project", &def_project) < 0)
             flux_log (h, LOG_ERR, "mf_priority unpack: %s", error.text);
 
         Association *b;
@@ -251,10 +255,14 @@ static void rec_update_cb (flux_t *h,
         b->max_run_jobs = max_running_jobs;
         b->max_active_jobs = max_active_jobs;
         b->active = active;
+        b->def_project = def_project;
 
         // split queues comma-delimited string and add it to b->queues vector
         b->queues.clear ();
         split_string_and_push_back (assoc_queues, b->queues);
+        // do the same thing for the association's projects
+        b->projects.clear ();
+        split_string_and_push_back (projects, b->projects);
 
         users_def_bank[uid] = def_bank;
     }
@@ -323,6 +331,53 @@ static void rec_q_cb (flux_t *h,
 }
 
 
+/*
+ * Unpack a payload from an external bulk update service and place it in the
+ * "projects" vector.
+ */
+static void rec_proj_cb (flux_t *h,
+                         flux_msg_handler_t *mh,
+                         const flux_msg_t *msg,
+                         void *arg)
+{
+    char *project = NULL;
+    json_t *data, *jtemp = NULL;
+    json_error_t error;
+    int num_data = 0;
+    size_t index;
+    json_t *el;
+
+    if (flux_request_unpack (msg, NULL, "{s:o}", "data", &data) < 0) {
+        flux_log_error (h, "failed to unpack custom_priority.trigger msg");
+        goto error;
+    }
+
+    if (!data || !json_is_array (data)) {
+        flux_log (h, LOG_ERR, "mf_priority: invalid project info payload");
+        goto error;
+    }
+    num_data = json_array_size (data);
+
+    // clear the projects vector
+    projects.clear ();
+
+    json_array_foreach (data, index, el) {
+        if (json_unpack_ex (el, &error, 0, "{s:s}", "project", &project) < 0) {
+            flux_log (h, LOG_ERR, "mf_priority unpack: %s", error.text);
+            goto error;
+        }
+        projects.push_back (project);
+    }
+
+    if (flux_respond (h, msg, NULL) < 0)
+        flux_log_error (h, "flux_respond");
+
+    return;
+error:
+    flux_respond_error (h, msg, errno, flux_msg_last_error (msg));
+}
+
+
 static void reprior_cb (flux_t *h,
                         flux_msg_handler_t *mh,
                         const flux_msg_t *msg,
@@ -1005,9 +1060,11 @@ static const struct flux_plugin_handler tab[] = {
 extern "C" int flux_plugin_init (flux_plugin_t *p)
 {
     if (flux_plugin_register (p, "mf_priority", tab) < 0
-        || flux_jobtap_service_register (p, "rec_update", rec_update_cb, p)
-        || flux_jobtap_service_register (p, "reprioritize", reprior_cb, p)
-        || flux_jobtap_service_register (p, "rec_q_update", rec_q_cb, p) < 0)
+        || flux_jobtap_service_register (p, "rec_update", rec_update_cb, p) < 0
+        || flux_jobtap_service_register (p, "reprioritize", reprior_cb, p) < 0
+        || flux_jobtap_service_register (p, "rec_q_update", rec_q_cb, p) < 0
+        || flux_jobtap_service_register (p, "rec_proj_update", rec_proj_cb, p)
+        < 0)
         return -1;
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/src/plugins/test/accounting_test01.cpp b/src/plugins/test/accounting_test01.cpp
index 4ddff822..536fbbf8 100644
--- a/src/plugins/test/accounting_test01.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/test/accounting_test01.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ std::map<int, std::map<std::string, Association>> users;
 std::map<int, std::string> users_def_bank;
 // define a test queues map
 std::map<std::string, Queue> queues;
+// define a vector of chargeable projects
+std::vector<std::string> projects;
 
 
 /*
@@ -50,7 +52,9 @@ void add_user_to_map (
         a.held_jobs,
         a.queues,
         a.queue_factor,
-        a.active
+        a.active,
+        a.projects,
+        a.def_project
     };
 }
 
@@ -61,8 +65,8 @@ void add_user_to_map (
 void initialize_map (
     std::map<int, std::map<std::string, Association>> &users)
 {
-    Association user1 = {"bank_A", 0.5, 5, 0, 7, 0, {}, {}, 0, 1};
-    Association user2 = {"bank_A", 0.5, 5, 0, 7, 0, {}, {}, 0, 1};
+    Association user1 = {"bank_A", 0.5, 5, 0, 7, 0, {}, {}, 0, 1, {"*"}, "*"};
+    Association user2 = {"bank_A", 0.5, 5, 0, 7, 0, {}, {}, 0, 1, {"*"}, "*"};
 
     add_user_to_map (users, 1001, "bank_A", user1);
     users_def_bank[1001] = "bank_A";
@@ -82,6 +86,17 @@ void initialize_queues () {
 }
 
 
+/*
+ * helper function to add test projects to the projects vector
+ */
+void initialize_projects () {
+    projects.push_back ("*");
+    projects.push_back ("A");
+    projects.push_back ("B");
+    projects.push_back ("C");
+}
+
+
 // ensure we can access a user/bank in the users map
 static void test_direct_map_access (
     std::map<int, std::map<std::string, Association>> &users)
@@ -189,6 +204,54 @@ static void test_get_queue_info_invalid_queue ()
 }
 
 
+// ensure user has access to a default project
+static void test_get_project_info_success_default ()
+{
+    Association a = users[1001]["bank_A"];
+    const char *p = "*";
+    int result = get_project_info (p, a.projects, projects);
+
+    ok (result == 0, "association has access to default project");
+}
+
+
+// ensure we can access projects that we add to an association
+static void test_get_project_info_success_specified ()
+{
+    Association a = users[1001]["bank_A"];
+    a.projects = {"*", "A"};
+    const char *p = "A";
+
+    int result = get_project_info (p, a.projects, projects);
+
+    ok (result == 0, "association has access to a specified project");
+}
+
+
+// ensure UNKNOWN_PROJECT is returned when an unrecognized project is passed in
+static void test_get_project_info_unknown_project ()
+{
+    Association a = users[1001]["bank_A"];
+    const char *p = "foo";
+    int result = get_project_info (p, a.projects, projects);
+
+    ok (result == UNKNOWN_PROJECT,
+        "UNKNOWN_PROJECT is returned when an unrecognized project is passed in");
+}
+
+
+// ensure INVALID_PROJECT is returned when an invalid project is passed in
+static void test_get_project_info_invalid_project ()
+{
+    Association a = users[1001]["bank_A"];
+    const char *p = "B";
+    int result = get_project_info (p, a.projects, projects);
+
+    ok (result == INVALID_PROJECT,
+        "INVALID_PROJECT is returned when an inaccessible project is passed in");
+}
+
+
 // ensure false is returned because we have valid flux-accounting data in map
 static void test_check_map_dne_false ()
 {
@@ -204,7 +267,7 @@ static void test_check_map_dne_true ()
     users.clear ();
     users_def_bank.clear ();
 
-    Association tmp_user = {"DNE", 0.5, 5, 0, 7, 0, {}, {}, 0, 1};
+    Association tmp_user = {"DNE", 0.5, 5, 0, 7, 0, {}, {}, 0, 1, {"*"}, "*"};
     add_user_to_map (users, 9999, "DNE", tmp_user);
     users_def_bank[9999] = "DNE";
 
@@ -217,12 +280,14 @@ static void test_check_map_dne_true ()
 int main (int argc, char* argv[])
 {
     // declare the number of tests that we plan to run
-    plan (11);
+    plan (15);
 
     // add users to the test map
     initialize_map (users);
     // add queues to the test queues map
     initialize_queues ();
+    // add projects to the test projects vector
+    initialize_projects ();
 
     test_direct_map_access (users);
     test_get_association_success ();
@@ -233,6 +298,10 @@ int main (int argc, char* argv[])
     test_get_queue_info_no_queue_specified ();
     test_get_queue_info_unknown_queue ();
     test_get_queue_info_invalid_queue ();
+    test_get_project_info_success_default ();
+    test_get_project_info_success_specified ();
+    test_get_project_info_unknown_project ();
+    test_get_project_info_invalid_project ();
     test_check_map_dne_false ();
     test_check_map_dne_true ();
 
diff --git a/t/expected/sample_payloads/same_fairshare.json b/t/expected/sample_payloads/same_fairshare.json
index f43647a1..aa08f069 100644
--- a/t/expected/sample_payloads/same_fairshare.json
+++ b/t/expected/sample_payloads/same_fairshare.json
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5012,
@@ -18,7 +20,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5013,
@@ -29,7 +33,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5021,
@@ -39,7 +45,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5022,
@@ -49,7 +57,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5031,
@@ -59,7 +69,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5032,
@@ -69,7 +81,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_no_tie.json b/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_no_tie.json
index c7bacec7..a8ace2e3 100644
--- a/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_no_tie.json
+++ b/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_no_tie.json
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5012,
@@ -18,7 +20,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5013,
@@ -28,7 +32,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5021,
@@ -38,7 +44,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5022,
@@ -48,7 +56,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5031,
@@ -58,7 +68,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5032,
@@ -68,7 +80,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie.json b/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie.json
index d443d923..3f44f68e 100644
--- a/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie.json
+++ b/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie.json
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5012,
@@ -18,7 +20,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5013,
@@ -28,7 +32,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5021,
@@ -38,7 +44,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5022,
@@ -48,7 +56,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5023,
@@ -58,7 +68,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5031,
@@ -68,7 +80,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       },
       {
         "userid": 5032,
@@ -78,7 +92,9 @@
         "max_running_jobs": 5,
         "max_active_jobs": 7,
         "queues": "",
-        "active": 1
+        "active": 1,
+        "projects": "*",
+        "def_project": "*"
       }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie_all.json b/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie_all.json
index 4418b4b2..e2d638c5 100644
--- a/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie_all.json
+++ b/t/expected/sample_payloads/small_tie_all.json
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5012,
@@ -18,7 +20,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5013,
@@ -28,7 +32,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5021,
@@ -38,7 +44,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5022,
@@ -48,7 +56,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5023,
@@ -58,7 +68,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5031,
@@ -68,7 +80,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5032,
@@ -78,7 +92,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         },
         {
           "userid": 5033,
@@ -88,7 +104,9 @@
           "max_running_jobs": 5,
           "max_active_jobs": 7,
           "queues": "",
-          "active": 1
+          "active": 1,
+          "projects": "*",
+          "def_project": "*"
         }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/t/t1001-mf-priority-basic.t b/t/t1001-mf-priority-basic.t
index 5e526697..dcbfedd9 100755
--- a/t/t1001-mf-priority-basic.t
+++ b/t/t1001-mf-priority-basic.t
@@ -51,7 +51,10 @@ test_expect_success 'create fake_payload.py' '
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": 10,
 				"max_active_jobs": 12,
-				"queues": "standby,special"
+				"queues": "standby,special",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			},
 			{
 				"userid": userid,
@@ -60,7 +63,10 @@ test_expect_success 'create fake_payload.py' '
 				"fairshare": 0.11345,
 				"max_running_jobs": 10,
 				"max_active_jobs": 12,
-				"queues": "standby"
+				"queues": "standby",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}
@@ -167,7 +173,10 @@ test_expect_success 'pass special key to user/bank struct to nullify information
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": -1,
 				"max_active_jobs": 12,
-				"queues": "standby,special"
+				"queues": "standby,special",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}
@@ -195,7 +204,10 @@ test_expect_success 'resend user/bank information with valid data and successful
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": 2,
 				"max_active_jobs": 4,
-				"queues": "standby,special"
+				"queues": "standby,special",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}
diff --git a/t/t1005-max-jobs-limits.t b/t/t1005-max-jobs-limits.t
index ea8cd0db..71c4e4b2 100755
--- a/t/t1005-max-jobs-limits.t
+++ b/t/t1005-max-jobs-limits.t
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ test_expect_success 'create fake_user.json' '
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": 2,
 				"max_active_jobs": 4,
-				"queues": ""
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			},
 			{
 				"userid": 5011,
@@ -41,7 +44,10 @@ test_expect_success 'create fake_user.json' '
 				"fairshare": 0.11345,
 				"max_running_jobs": 1,
 				"max_active_jobs": 2,
-				"queues": ""
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}
@@ -123,7 +129,10 @@ test_expect_success 'increase the max jobs count of the user' '
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": 3,
 				"max_active_jobs": 4,
-				"queues": ""
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}
@@ -172,7 +181,10 @@ test_expect_success 'update max_active_jobs limit' '
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": 3,
 				"max_active_jobs": 5,
-				"queues": ""
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}
@@ -229,7 +241,10 @@ test_expect_success 'create another user with the same limits in multiple banks'
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": 1,
 				"max_active_jobs": 2,
-				"queues": ""
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			},
 			{
 				"userid": 5012,
@@ -238,7 +253,10 @@ test_expect_success 'create another user with the same limits in multiple banks'
 				"fairshare": 0.11345,
 				"max_running_jobs": 1,
 				"max_active_jobs": 2,
-				"queues": ""
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}
diff --git a/t/t1012-mf-priority-load.t b/t/t1012-mf-priority-load.t
index 9e01c382..869ffc8a 100755
--- a/t/t1012-mf-priority-load.t
+++ b/t/t1012-mf-priority-load.t
@@ -32,8 +32,30 @@ test_expect_success 'create fake_payload.py' '
 	# create an array of JSON payloads
 	bulk_update_data = {
 		"data" : [
-			{"userid": userid, "bank": "account3", "def_bank": "account3", "fairshare": 0.45321, "max_running_jobs": 1, "max_active_jobs": 3},
-			{"userid": userid, "bank": "account2", "def_bank": "account3", "fairshare": 0.11345, "max_running_jobs": 1, "max_active_jobs": 3}
+			{
+				"userid": userid,
+				"bank": "account3",
+				"def_bank": "account3",
+				"fairshare": 0.45321,
+				"max_running_jobs": 1,
+				"max_active_jobs": 3,
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
+			},
+			{
+				"userid": userid,
+				"bank": "account2",
+				"def_bank": "account3",
+				"fairshare": 0.11345,
+				"max_running_jobs": 1,
+				"max_active_jobs": 3,
+				"queues": "",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
+			}
 		]
 	}
 	flux.Flux().rpc("job-manager.mf_priority.rec_update", json.dumps(bulk_update_data)).get()
diff --git a/t/t1014-mf-priority-dne.t b/t/t1014-mf-priority-dne.t
index a3ca34b1..978cb412 100755
--- a/t/t1014-mf-priority-dne.t
+++ b/t/t1014-mf-priority-dne.t
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@ test_expect_success 'send the user/bank information to the plugin without reprio
 				"fairshare": 0.45321,
 				"max_running_jobs": 10,
 				"max_active_jobs": 12,
-				"queues": "standby,special"
+				"queues": "standby,special",
+				"active": 1,
+				"projects": "*",
+				"def_project": "*"
 			}
 		]
 	}