EATS Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 4797

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-05-14T08:08:25Z

AI-Generated Summary

## Purpose The legislation aims to expand access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by eliminating rules that currently bar many full- or part-time college students from receiving benefits, even if they meet income and other eligibility standards.

## Key Provisions

• Adds a new category to the definition of eligible individuals under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, specifically including "bona fide students enrolled at least half time in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education."
• Removes language in existing law that disqualifies students enrolled in higher education from SNAP participation.
• Strikes the entire subsection that lists special conditions students must meet to qualify for benefits.
• Sets an effective date of January 2, 2026.

## Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill repeals longstanding student-specific restrictions in the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. Previously, most students attending college at least half time were ineligible for SNAP unless they satisfied narrow exceptions (such as working 20 hours per week or participating in certain work-study programs). This measure removes those barriers for otherwise qualifying low-income students.

## Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service would process additional applications and issue more benefits, potentially increasing program costs.
• Citizens: Low-income college students could gain access to monthly food assistance, which may reduce food insecurity among this group.
• International relations: No direct effects anticipated, as the changes apply only to domestic SNAP eligibility.

## Main Stakeholders Affected

• Students enrolled at least half time in colleges, universities, or training programs.
• Low-income households that include such students.
• Higher education institutions, which may see indirect effects through student retention or campus support services.
• State and local SNAP administering agencies responsible for eligibility determinations.

## Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill makes a straightforward statutory change to an existing federal benefits program and does not appear to raise new constitutional questions. It expands eligibility within the framework of the Food and Nutrition Act without altering state-federal relationships or creating new regulatory mandates.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]

Cosponsors (139)

Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] and 89 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Enhance Access To SNAP Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (3 pages)