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Allows State agencies to hire contractors to help with SNAP eligibility, certification, and related program functions during application surges or processing delays. States must notify the USDA Secretary when they hire contractors; the Secretary must publish those notifications quickly and send an annual report to congressional agriculture committees.
Adds a new subsection (y) titled “SNAP staffing flexibility” to Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2020).
Notwithstanding section 11(e)(6)(B), a State agency may, by contract and at reasonable cost under the State agency’s standard contracting rules, hire a contractor to undertake SNAP certification or carry out any other function of the State agency under the SNAP program.
The contract must not provide incentives for the agency or contractor to delay eligibility determinations or to deny eligibility for individuals otherwise eligible for SNAP benefits.
The contractor must have no direct or indirect financial interest in an approved retail store.
A State agency may use this contracting authority when the State experiences increases in SNAP applications or an inability to timely process applications for causes that include, but are not limited to, pandemics and other health emergencies, seasonal workforce cycles, temporary staffing shortages, and weather or other natural disasters.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Donald J. Bacon · Last progress April 10, 2025
State agencies: Gain explicit authority to hire contractors during high-volume periods, enabling quicker scaling of staffing to process SNAP applications and certifications. This can reduce wait times and backlog for applicants but may require States to fund contractor costs if federal funding is not provided. SNAP applicants and recipients: Likely to see faster processing and fewer delays in benefit determinations when contractors are used; potential concerns include continuity of service and data privacy when outside contractors handle sensitive applicant information. Contractors: Could see new opportunities to perform eligibility and certification work for State SNAP agencies during surge periods. USDA/Secretary: Takes on new transparency duties—publishing notifications within 10 days and providing an annual report to Congress—creating an administrative burden but increasing oversight. Congress and oversight bodies: Will receive regular information about State use of contractors, enabling oversight of when and how outside entities perform SNAP functions. Operational risks and considerations: The statute does not detail procurement, training, data security, quality-control, or funding responsibilities; those gaps could create variation in implementation across States and raise risks around applicant data protection and program integrity unless addressed through regulation or guidance.
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House