Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4367
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T11:03:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act (S. 4367) aims to expand the types of food eligible for purchase using SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps) benefits by specifically including hot rotisserie chicken.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012(k)(1)), which defines "food" for SNAP purposes.
- Insertions and strikes:
- Adds "hot rotisserie chicken and" before the phrase "those authorized".
- Replaces "clauses" with "paragraphs".
- Removes "of this subsection".
- These changes clarify and explicitly authorize hot rotisserie chicken as an eligible SNAP food item.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current SNAP rules, "food" generally includes items for home consumption but excludes hot foods (like those ready-to-eat from restaurants or delis, intended for immediate consumption).
- This bill carves out an exception for hot rotisserie chicken, making it the first explicitly named hot food eligible for SNAP benefits, despite the general prohibition on hot prepared foods.
Potential Impacts
- SNAP recipients: Provides access to a popular, affordable hot protein option (often sold for $5–$10 at grocery stores), improving nutritional flexibility for low-income households.
- Retailers: Grocery stores (e.g., Walmart, Costco) with rotisserie chicken displays can accept SNAP for these sales, potentially boosting revenue.
- Government agencies: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs SNAP, may need minor updates to guidance, point-of-sale systems, and retailer training; no major funding changes anticipated.
- Citizens: Minor expansion of benefits for ~42 million monthly SNAP users, focusing on convenience without altering eligibility or benefit amounts.
- No direct impact on international relations.
Main Stakeholders
- SNAP participants (primarily low-income families, elderly, and children).
- Grocery retailers selling rotisserie chickens.
- USDA and state SNAP administrators.
- Food producers (poultry farmers and processors).
- Advocates for nutrition access (bill sponsors: Sens. Justice, Capito, Bennet, Fetterman).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Narrow, technical amendment avoids broad changes to SNAP's anti-restaurant rule (to prevent benefit use like cash at eateries); could set precedent for future food-specific exceptions.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I.
- Political: Bipartisan support (Republican and Democratic sponsors) highlights niche, non-controversial reform; symbolic as a "common-sense" fix for a staple grocery item, potentially aiding quick passage via Agriculture Committee. No major fiscal impact (~$10–20 million/year estimated, though not specified).
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (10)
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act — issued 2026-04-21 — PDF (2 pages)