Ending Stolen SNAP Benefits Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 9359

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-07-02T20:52:06Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 9359: Ending Stolen SNAP Benefits Act of 2026

Purpose

This legislation amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require the reissuance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen through identity theft or skimming practices. It also establishes federal cost-sharing to help states transition to more secure electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.

Key Provisions

• Benefit Reissuance: Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue regulations establishing criteria for states to identify stolen benefits with minimal burden on affected households and to reissue those benefits.
• Regulatory Requirements: Regulations must align with certain procedures from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and permit reissuance to the same household if a state transition plan is approved.
• Reporting Obligations: Requires status reports to Congress within 240 days of regulations on prevalence of theft, feasibility of chip technology, and annual public reports on reissued benefits by state.
• Technology Review: Mandates periodic updates to regulations to address evolving threats and improve EBT card security.
• Cost-Sharing for Chip-Enabled Cards: Provides 90% federal reimbursement for state administrative costs in transitioning from magnetic-stripe to chip-enabled EBT cards that meet specific standards, covering items such as card issuance, system testing, and outreach.
• Transition Plan Approval: Requires states to submit plans ensuring uninterrupted benefit access; the Secretary must approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove within 90 days (with deemed approval if no action is taken).
• Sunset Clause: The cost-sharing provision expires on September 30, 2031.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 7 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand benefit reissuance beyond mail losses to include theft by identity theft or skimming.
• Modifies Section 16 to create an exception for federal cost-sharing on chip card transitions, previously limited under general administrative cost rules.
• Introduces new regulatory and reporting frameworks not present in prior law for handling stolen benefits and promoting secure technology.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies in verifying theft claims, processing reissuances, and managing technology transitions; provides federal funding to offset state costs.
• Citizens: Enhances protection for SNAP recipients by restoring stolen benefits and encouraging more secure payment methods, potentially reducing financial hardship from theft.
• International Relations: No direct impacts identified.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• SNAP recipient households experiencing benefit theft.
• State agencies administering SNAP programs.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service.
• EBT card vendors and retailers accepting SNAP benefits.
• Congress, through required reporting and oversight.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Operates within existing federal authority over nutrition assistance programs, with no apparent constitutional conflicts related to spending or regulation.
• Emphasizes victim-friendly procedures to minimize household burden in claiming theft.
• Includes bipartisan sponsorship and focuses on fraud prevention without altering eligibility or benefit levels.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-18: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
• 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Ending Stolen SNAP Benefits Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (7 pages)