Sponsors (9)
The bill significantly strengthens EBT security and beneficiary access (faster, free replacements and modernization of cards/terminals) but shifts meaningful costs, administrative burdens, and transitional risks to states, retailers, and taxpayers while raising trade-offs around privacy and uniform federal oversight.
SNAP beneficiaries (low-income households) will face substantially reduced risk of benefit theft and card-skimming because states and retailers must migrate to chip-enabled EBT cards/terminals and adopt stronger authentication and cybersecurity standards.
Households using SNAP will regain access faster and with less cost when cards fail or are lost because states must provide replacement cards within 3 business days and replacements caused by malfunctions or fraud are not charged to beneficiaries.
More retail locations will be able to accept modern EBT payments thanks to a federal grant/subgrant program and retailer terminal modernization requirements, expanding payment options (contact/contactless) and reducing reliance on outdated terminals.
State governments and taxpayers will face substantial new administrative and system-upgrade costs (reissuing cards, mailing, IT upgrades, enforcement) that could require budget increases or divert funds from other services.
Small and rural retailers may struggle to afford or implement new chip-enabled terminals and cybersecurity requirements, risking reduced SNAP acceptance in some communities and making access harder for beneficiaries who rely on nearby stores.
During the transition to new cards/terminals and while systems are upgraded, beneficiaries could face service disruptions or outages that temporarily prevent access to benefits.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Requires chip-enabled EBT cards and retail terminals, strengthens EBT cybersecurity and reporting, accelerates replacement cards, and limits certain State replacement fees.
Official title: To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require the promulgation of cybersecurity and digital service regulations relating to the use of EBT cards under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 24, 2026 by Daniel Goldman · Last progress February 24, 2026
Requires stronger cybersecurity and modern payment technology for SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards and related systems, including migration to chip-enabled cards and terminals, rules to detect and prevent online benefit theft, faster replacement cards, and limits on State replacement fees. Sets deadlines for rulemaking, reporting requirements on online theft, and a special security report on Puerto Rico EBT cards.