OHH SNAP Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 8246

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-05-27T08:06:26Z

AI-Generated Summary

H.R. 8246: Overcoming Higher Education Hunger Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Act of 2026 (OHH SNAP Act of 2026)

Purpose

This bill aims to expand eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—commonly known as food stamps—to more college students, particularly those with very low financial need or who qualify as independent students, to address food insecurity among higher education enrollees.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: "Overcoming Higher Education Hunger Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Act of 2026" or "OHH SNAP Act of 2026."
• Treatment of Educational Loans (Sec. 2): Removes a specific exclusion in SNAP income rules related to educational loans.
• Student Eligibility Expansion (Sec. 3):
• Adds two new exemptions from student ineligibility rules:
• Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) equal to or less than $0. (SAI is a number calculated from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, showing a student's financial need; $0 or negative indicates no expected family contribution.)
• Students deemed "independent" under certain Higher Education Act criteria (e.g., age 24+, married, orphan, veteran, or with legal dependents).
• Modifies work requirements for certain students: Changes "work" to "attending an institution of higher education or work" (at least 20 hours/week aggregate).
• Effective Date (Sec. 4): Takes effect 180 days after enactment; amendments apply only to new SNAP certification periods starting on or after that date.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (Sections 5(k) and 6):
• Strikes paragraph (3) of Section 5(k), likely eliminating an exclusion that treated certain educational loans or assistance as income for SNAP purposes (redesignates paragraph (4) as (3)).
• Adds paragraphs (9) and (10) to Section 6(e), creating new pathways for students to qualify despite typical SNAP student restrictions.
• Updates Section 6(o)(2)(A) to count college attendance toward the 20-hour weekly work/study requirement, broadening access.

Potential Impacts

• Citizens: Increases SNAP access for low-income or independent college students (potentially hundreds of thousands), helping combat campus hunger but raising federal and state SNAP costs.
• Government Agencies: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs SNAP, and state agencies may see higher enrollment, administrative workload, and verification needs (e.g., cross-checking FAFSA data).
• No direct impact on international relations.

Main Stakeholders

• College students: Primary beneficiaries, especially those with SAI ≤ $0 or independent status.
• SNAP administrators: USDA and state welfare agencies handling eligibility and benefits.
• Higher education institutions: May see indirect benefits from reduced student food insecurity.
• Taxpayers: Bear increased program costs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on existing Higher Education Act definitions for consistency; effective date delays minimize disruptions to ongoing SNAP cases.
• Constitutional: No apparent issues; expands welfare eligibility within Congress's spending power.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsors (Democrats and one Republican); could spark debates on welfare expansion versus student self-sufficiency, with potential for higher federal spending (exact costs unspecified).

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

Sponsor

Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2026-04-09: Introduced in House
• 2026-04-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Overcoming Higher Education Hunger Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-09 — PDF (3 pages)