Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7522

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-07-02T08:07:21Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026 aims to repeal a specific work requirement in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps). This requirement currently limits able-bodied adults without dependents (often called ABAWDs) to three months of benefits in a 36-month period unless they work, train for work, or qualify for an exemption. The bill seeks to expand access to SNAP benefits, which help low-income individuals and families buy healthy food, based on findings that SNAP improves health, reduces poverty, and boosts the economy without work requirements effectively reducing poverty.

Key Provisions

• Repeal of Work Requirement: Strikes out subsection (o) of Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which imposes the time-limited eligibility rule for ABAWDs. It also removes related references in other parts of the law.
• Elimination of State Incentives: Removes a provision that provided extra federal funding to states for creating work opportunities under SNAP.
• Technical and Conforming Changes: Updates cross-references in the Food and Nutrition Act, the Internal Revenue Code (which affects tax credits for hiring certain SNAP recipients), and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (which coordinates job training programs) to align with the repeal.
• Effective Date: Takes effect 180 days after enactment. Amendments do not retroactively affect SNAP benefits issued before this date or certain hires within 90 days of enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Core Change: Ends the three-month benefit limit for ABAWDs (adults aged 18-52 who are able-bodied and do not have children or other dependents living with them), allowing indefinite eligibility as long as they meet general SNAP income and resource rules.
• Administrative Simplification: Reduces requirements for states to track and enforce work compliance, eliminating related bureaucracy and funding bonuses.
• Broader Alignment: Removes SNAP work rules from integration with tax incentives and workforce programs, decoupling SNAP from mandatory employment mandates.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could benefit up to 6.1 million ABAWDs at risk of losing benefits, including those facing health issues, unemployment, homelessness, or family caregiving responsibilities. This may improve food security, child health and education, and economic stability for low-income households, particularly Black Americans and families with school-aged children who rely on shared resources. Studies cited in the bill suggest no poverty reduction from work rules but potential increases in participation and economic activity (e.g., $1.50–$1.80 in stimulus per $1 in benefits).
• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs SNAP, and state agencies may see reduced administrative costs and workload from less enforcement and tracking. However, this could increase overall SNAP spending and enrollment.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic food assistance.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• SNAP Recipients: Primarily ABAWDs, low-income families (including children in poverty), homeless individuals, Black Americans facing higher unemployment, and extended family members sharing benefits.
• State and Local Governments: Agencies administering SNAP may experience workload relief but need to adjust outreach and eligibility processes.
• Federal Government: USDA and Congress, with potential increases in program costs offset by economic benefits; taxpayers funding SNAP.
• Employers and Workforce Programs: Affected indirectly through removed ties to tax credits and job training incentives.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Simplifies SNAP administration by removing complex compliance rules, potentially reducing legal challenges over exemptions or enforcement. Conforming amendments ensure consistency across federal laws without creating new liabilities.
• Constitutional Implications: None explicitly raised; the bill aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I to regulate welfare programs, avoiding equal protection concerns by broadening access to vulnerable groups.
• Political Implications: Highlights debates over welfare reform, with findings emphasizing SNAP's benefits and work requirements' ineffectiveness or disproportionate harm to minorities and the homeless. Passage could signal a shift toward expanding social safety nets, influencing future nutrition policy amid economic downturns.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

Cosponsors (15)

Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
• 2026-02-12: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2026-02-12: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-12 — PDF (6 pages)