Ensuring Fee-Free Benefit Transactions Act of 2025

This bill makes the current ban on charging fees for SNAP debit (EBT) transactions permanent. States and their contractors would not be allowed to bill grocery stores and other SNAP-authorized retailers for processing, switching, or routing SNAP payments. The only exception is that costs for equipment rentals can still be charged. It also overrides earlier temporary rules from a 2023 law. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Key points:

• Who is affected: SNAP-authorized retailers, state agencies and their vendors, and SNAP shoppers indirectly.
• What changes: No transaction, switching, or routing fees can be charged to retailers for SNAP EBT; equipment rental fees are still allowed.
• When: Effective October 1, 2025; it supersedes related 2023 provisions and actions.