SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 793

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-05-22T08:08:57Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025 aims to modify the rules for calculating eligibility and benefit amounts under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, a federal program providing food assistance to low-income individuals and families). Specifically, it seeks to eliminate a cap on deductions for housing-related costs, allowing participants with higher shelter expenses to potentially receive larger benefits.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is titled the "SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025."
• Amendment to Existing Law: It revises Section 5(e)(6) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(6)) by:
• Removing subparagraph (B), which imposes a maximum limit on the shelter deduction (a reduction in countable income for expenses like rent, mortgage, or utilities).
• Renumbering the remaining subparagraphs (C and D) as (B) and (C).
• Effective Date: The changes take effect on January 1 of the first year following the bill's enactment.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Under current law, SNAP participants can deduct shelter costs from their income when determining benefits, but there is a cap (typically around $712 per month for households without an elderly or disabled member, adjusted annually for inflation). This bill repeals that cap entirely.
• This adjustment simplifies the deduction process by treating shelter expenses without an upper limit, similar to how other deductions (like medical expenses for elderly/disabled households) are handled without caps.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Low-income households, particularly those in high-cost housing areas (e.g., urban regions with expensive rent), may qualify for higher SNAP benefits, improving food security and reducing financial strain from housing costs. This could affect millions of SNAP recipients, potentially increasing average monthly benefits by allowing fuller accounting of shelter expenses.
• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, and state agencies that administer the program may see increased workloads for recalculating benefits and processing claims. Federal spending on SNAP could rise, estimated in the billions annually depending on participation rates, though exact figures would depend on economic conditions.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic welfare policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• SNAP Recipients: Primary beneficiaries, including working-poor families, seniors, and disabled individuals facing high housing costs.
• State and Local Governments: Responsible for implementing SNAP; they may need to update systems and could face higher administrative costs offset by federal reimbursements.
• USDA and Federal Budget: Oversees program integrity and funding; potential for increased expenditures without corresponding revenue changes.
• Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through higher federal outlays for the program.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: This is a straightforward statutory amendment with no apparent conflicts to existing constitutional provisions, such as equal protection under the law. It promotes uniformity in benefit calculations but may require USDA rulemaking to clarify implementation details.
• Constitutional: No major issues; it aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to regulate welfare programs.
• Political: The bill, introduced by Representatives McIver and Brown, reflects bipartisan or progressive efforts to address cost-of-living disparities in anti-poverty programs. It could spark debates on federal spending and program costs, potentially influencing future appropriations for SNAP amid ongoing discussions on welfare reform.

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

Sponsor

Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

Cosponsors (29)

Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
• 2025-02-06: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H510-511)
• 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• SNAP Benefits Fairness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (2 pages)