Sponsors (137)
The bill expands SNAP access for low-income college students and reduces student food insecurity, but does so at modest additional federal cost and with added administrative and campus-planning burdens.
Low-income college students enrolled at least half-time become newly eligible for SNAP, increasing access to federal food assistance for tens or hundreds of thousands of students.
Households with college students will likely see reduced food insecurity and improved ability to afford essentials as students gain SNAP benefits.
Expanding SNAP eligibility for students may reduce demand on campus food pantries and emergency aid programs, freeing campus resources for other uses.
Taxpayers may face modest increased federal SNAP expenditures to cover newly eligible students, raising program costs.
Some students who previously relied on targeted campus programs may shift to federal SNAP, complicating campus support planning and coordination with existing campus services.
Broader eligibility could increase administrative workload for state SNAP agencies processing more student cases, adding burdens to state systems.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Removes the statutory rule that makes many college and higher-education students ineligible for SNAP and instead explicitly treats bona fide students enrolled at least half time as a defined category for SNAP. The change takes effect January 2, 2026 and does not include new appropriations or create new agencies.
Introduced July 29, 2025 by Jimmy Gomez · Last progress July 29, 2025