Sponsors (27)
The bill improves SNAP service quality and worker pay by federally funding approved administrative personnel costs and requiring approved wage plans, but it raises federal spending, increases compliance burdens, may constrain state budget flexibility, and could produce uneven rollout across states.
SNAP applicants and participants (low-income individuals) will get faster, more accurate service because the federal government will cover 100% of approved SNAP administrative personnel costs, enabling states to hire and retain more caseworkers and fund training.
State SNAP workers will receive higher and regularly updated wages (tied to Federal chapter 53 plus annual locality adjustments), improving recruitment and retention of frontline staff.
State budgets will face less pressure for SNAP administration because the federal government assumes approved administrative personnel costs, freeing state funds for other priorities.
Taxpayers and the federal budget will face higher outlays because the federal government would pay 100% of approved SNAP administrative personnel costs; if nationwide wage increases are large this could crowd out other federal priorities.
States that fail to submit approved wage plans within the required timeframe may face implementation delays or lose access to enhanced reimbursement, producing uneven service improvements across states and leaving some low-income residents behind.
Supplement-not-supplant and FTE maintenance requirements could force states to preserve existing payroll commitments and restrict how funds are used, reducing state budget flexibility.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires state SNAP administrators to match federal pay rates (with annual locality adjustments) and makes USDA reimburse 100% of approved SNAP administrative personnel costs after plan approval.
Requires states to pay SNAP (food stamp) administrators wages at least equal to comparable federal pay rates (including locality adjustments) and to update those wages annually; states must submit a wage plan within one year. If USDA approves a state’s wage plan, the federal government must reimburse 100% of the State’s SNAP administrative personnel costs for hiring, training, and maintaining staff, provided funds supplement (not supplant) non‑Federal funds and support FTEs above FY2024 levels.
Official title: To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to increase the Federal cost share for supplemental nutrition assistance program administration to improve staffing and retention, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Jahana Hayes · Last progress May 15, 2025