Sponsors (88)
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Expands what can be bought with SNAP by allowing hot prepared foods. It removes the blanket ban on “hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption,” and clarifies that where the food is eaten (on‑site or off‑site) does not decide eligibility. To keep restaurants out of the program, a store will not qualify as a SNAP retailer if more than 50% of its gross sales come from hot foods. USDA, states, and retailers would need to update rules and checkout systems, but the bill does not provide new funding.
Subsection (k)(1) is changed to allow foods for consumption to include hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption, and to explicitly exclude alcoholic beverages and tobacco.
In subsection (o)(1), the introductory matter before subparagraph (A) is changed by replacing the phrase “and consumption” with “or home or immediate consumption.”
In subsection (o)(1), subparagraph (A) is rewritten: the subparagraph designation and its text are replaced so the first clause is designated (A)(i) and contains the word “offers;”.
In subsection (o)(1), clause (i) (as redesignated) is amended by striking the punctuation at the end and inserting the word “and.”
In subsection (o)(1), a new clause (ii) is added to subparagraph (A) stating: “of which not more than 50 percent of the total gross sales are from hot foods or hot food products ready for immediate consumption;” (appears followed by connectors in the text).
SNAP recipients gain access to hot meals, helping people who lack kitchens, are homeless, elderly, disabled, or impacted by disasters. Retail food stores (especially groceries, supermarkets, and convenience stores with deli counters) could see higher sales and must update POS coding and staff training to properly flag eligible hot items. Restaurants and establishments that get more than half of their sales from hot foods remain excluded by the new 50% cap. State SNAP agencies and USDA must update regulations, guidance, and oversight, and work with EBT processors to implement new product codes and retailer compliance checks. The change improves flexibility and convenience for households but may raise administrative workload and require clear definitions to prevent misuse and ensure consistent enforcement.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced March 31, 2025 by Grace Meng · Last progress March 31, 2025
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Hot Foods Act of 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House