Sponsors (2)
The bill improves protection and access for SNAP recipients by enabling stolen-benefit reissuance, requiring stronger chip-based EBT security, and funding most transition costs for states — but it raises near- and long-term fiscal, implementation, fraud, and vendor/standards risks that could increase costs and complicate oversight.
SNAP participants (especially low-income households) will get stronger EBT security because cards must meet ANSI X9.58–2024 chip standards and the bill requires periodic reviews of EBT technology, reducing future skimming/identity-theft risks.
Households whose benefits are stolen (identity theft/skimming) will be able to have benefits reissued with reduced burden on victims because the bill establishes reissuance authority and clear, victim-friendly criteria and best practices for states.
SNAP recipients will keep uninterrupted access to benefits during the EBT transition because States must include steps in approved plans to prevent service interruptions.
Taxpayers and state budgets may face higher costs because replacing stolen benefits and federally reimbursing up to 90% of transition costs increases SNAP outlays and federal spending through FY2031.
Looser, victim-friendly reissuance standards could increase improper payments and fraud if identification criteria are insufficient, exposing states and taxpayers to higher fraud risk.
States, vendors, and some rural/local offices will face implementation burdens and upfront administrative costs (transition plans, new procurement, reporting) that require staff time and short-term cash outlays even if partially reimbursed.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires USDA rules to allow reissuance of stolen SNAP benefits and funds 90% of State administrative costs to switch EBT cards to chip standard through Sept 30, 2031.
Official title: To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide for the reissuance to households of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits to replace benefits stolen by identity theft or typical skimming practices, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 18, 2026 by Grace Meng · Last progress June 18, 2026
Requires the USDA to adopt rules and reporting to let States reissue SNAP benefits stolen through identity theft or card skimming, and creates a temporary federal cost‑share to help States convert SNAP EBT cards from magnetic stripe to chip-enabled cards meeting a new ANSI standard. The bill sets timelines for regulatory issuance and reports, requires State transition plans for EBT modernization, funds 90% of specified administrative transition costs after plan approval, and sunsets the cost‑share program on September 30, 2031.