Sponsors (3)
The bill improves USDA's access to SNAP recipient data to speed fraud detection and audits and protect program funds, while increasing privacy risks for beneficiaries and imposing compliance costs and potential service disruptions on state programs.
Taxpayers, state SNAP agencies, and program administrators: state SNAP agencies must provide recipient-level data to USDA on request, enabling faster investigations and fraud detection that can protect program integrity and federal funds.
Taxpayers and program managers: USDA can obtain requested SNAP data within 30 days (sooner for urgent cases), which can speed audits and corrective actions to limit improper payments.
Low-income SNAP recipients: data transfers must comply with federal privacy and security laws (including the Privacy Act), providing legal safeguards on how recipient information is handled.
Low-income SNAP recipients: recipients' personally identifiable information may be shared with federal or state law enforcement, increasing privacy and surveillance risks for vulnerable households.
Low-income households and state program participants: states that fail to meet data requests or technical requirements could face funding suspensions, potentially disrupting SNAP benefits and administration.
State and local governments: new secure electronic transmission requirements and rapid deadlines may impose administrative and IT costs, diverting resources from direct service delivery.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Conditions state SNAP participation on timely provision of recipient-level and case-file data to USDA, with privacy protections and penalties for noncompliance.
Official title: Amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require States to provide recipient-level data to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress February 12, 2026
Requires states that operate SNAP to provide recipient-level and case-file data to USDA on request, transmitted securely and within 30 days (sooner for urgent needs). USDA must apply federal privacy and security laws to the data, may share data with federal or state law enforcement or investigative agencies for administration or enforcement, and can withhold SNAP funds from states that fail to comply. Preserves existing USDA authority to access state data for oversight, audits, enforcement, or evaluation, and makes secure electronic transmission and prescribed formats/timelines mandatory for data requests.