Sponsors (9)
The bill increases SNAP access and stability—helping millions of low-income households and children and supporting local economies—while trading off higher federal costs and potential reductions in work-linkage incentives, and leaving the risk that imposing or expanding work requirements would cut benefits for millions and worsen racial disparities.
Millions of low-income households and families with children will face fewer SNAP denials and get more continuous benefits, increasing food access and reducing short-term hunger.
Children in affected households will have more stable food assistance, which supports better nutrition and is associated with improved educational outcomes (e.g., reading and math scores).
SNAP spending provides an economic boost to local economies during downturns—each dollar generates roughly $1.50–$1.80 in economic activity—supporting jobs and businesses in communities that receive benefits.
If work requirements are applied or expanded, about 6.1 million people could lose SNAP benefits, substantially increasing food insecurity for those households.
Work requirements disproportionately threaten Black, Hispanic, Native, and homeless households, worsening racial and equity disparities in access to food assistance.
Eliminating the work test may modestly increase SNAP caseloads and federal program costs, which would raise spending obligations for taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Removes the federal SNAP work requirement and updates related statutes and cross-references; changes take effect 180 days after enactment.
Official title: Amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to repeal the particular work requirement that disqualifies able-bodied adults for eligibility to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 6, 2025 by Peter Welch · Last progress May 6, 2025
Eliminates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirement and updates federal law to remove references and rules tied to that requirement. The bill makes conforming changes across the Food and Nutrition Act, the Internal Revenue Code, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to delete or renumber provisions that depended on the work requirement, and it becomes effective 180 days after enactment. The measure is aimed at expanding access to SNAP benefits by removing a statutory barrier that currently conditions benefits on work-related rules for certain adults; it also adjusts cross-references and administrative language so SNAP eligibility and program administration no longer rely on the removed subsection.