COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2026

Bill Number

S. 3603

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Last Updated

2026-06-15T18:15:03Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "COLAs Don't Count Act of 2026" aims to update rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), a federal program that provides food benefits to low-income individuals and families. Specifically, it seeks to better exclude certain cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs)—automatic increases in benefits to account for inflation—from being counted as income when determining SNAP eligibility and benefit amounts. This prevents recipients from losing SNAP aid due to these adjustments.

Key Provisions

• Amendments to Income Exclusions: The bill modifies Section 5(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which lists what counts (or doesn't count) as income for SNAP purposes.
• Changes the start date in an existing exclusion (paragraph 12) from July 1 to January 1, likely aligning it with the typical timing of federal COLA announcements for programs like Social Security.
• Adds a new exclusion (new paragraph 19) for "supplementary payments" under Section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act. These are optional state-funded additions to federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for elderly, disabled, or blind individuals with very low income.
• Effective Date: The changes take effect on October 1, 2027, aligning with the federal fiscal year.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Enhanced COLA Protections: Previously, certain COLAs in federal benefits (like Social Security or SSI) could increase a person's countable income, potentially reducing or ending SNAP eligibility. The bill expands exclusions to fully shield state SSI supplements from this effect, ensuring COLAs do not trigger benefit losses.
• Date Adjustment: Shifting the reference date in paragraph 12 from July 1 to January 1 modernizes the rule to match current federal COLA implementation (which often occurs in January), closing a gap where mid-year adjustments might have been partially counted.
• These tweaks build on prior exclusions for federal payments but specifically target state supplements, which were not always fully protected.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Low-income SNAP recipients, particularly those also receiving SSI (about 8 million people, many elderly or disabled), could maintain or increase their food benefits without COLA-driven reductions. This may help combat food insecurity amid rising living costs, benefiting an estimated millions of households.
• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs SNAP, may see slightly higher program costs due to more exclusions, potentially increasing federal spending by tens of millions annually (exact figures would depend on implementation). States administering SSI supplements could face indirect pressure if federal SNAP rules influence their programs.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic welfare policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• SNAP and SSI Recipients: Primary beneficiaries, especially vulnerable groups like seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families relying on combined federal-state aid.
• Federal Government: Congress (via the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry) and USDA, responsible for program administration and funding.
• State Governments: Those providing SSI supplements, as the change could encourage or stabilize their contributions without federal offsets.
• Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on poverty, nutrition, and disability rights (e.g., those supporting the bill's sponsors like Senators Welch and Sanders).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens anti-poverty measures under the Food and Nutrition Act without altering core eligibility rules, ensuring compliance with welfare statutes. No challenges to administrative procedures anticipated.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to promote general welfare; no free speech, due process, or equal protection issues raised.
• Political: Reflects bipartisan interest in protecting safety-net programs from inflation erosion, potentially setting precedent for similar exclusions in other aid programs (e.g., Medicaid). Could influence future budget debates on welfare spending, emphasizing equity for fixed-income populations.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

Cosponsors (7)

Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]

Recent Actions

• 2026-01-08: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
• 2026-01-08: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-08 — PDF (2 pages)