Securing Strictly Needy Americans’ Pivotal (SNAP) Benefits Act of 2025
The Securing Strictly Needy Americans’ Pivotal (SNAP) Benefits Act of 2025 introduces two main changes to SNAP (the food stamp program) rules. First, it adds a residency-based enforcement mechanism: if a household’s SNAP EBT purchases are made exclusively in a state other than the one that issues their benefits for more than 60 days, the state agency must suspend that household’s EBT account until the household confirms they still reside in the original state or an investigation conclusively determines their residency. Second, it restricts SNAP benefit redemption by households that include a member who owns an approved retail food store or wholesale food concern, prohibiting redemption at that store unless the store is publicly owned or government-owned. The bill would take effect one year after enactment. In short, the bill seeks to curb out-of-state use of SNAP benefits and to prevent self-dealing by SNAP participants who own eligible food stores, with a one-year lead time before these changes apply.
Key Points
- 1Exclusively Out-of-State Purchases: If a household’s EBT transactions are made only in another state for more than 60 days, the state agency must suspend the household’s EBT account until residency is substantiated or a conclusive residency investigation is completed.
- 2Residency Verification or Investigation: Suspension lasts until the household affirmatively provides evidence of residence in the benefit state or until an investigation determines residency status.
- 3Self-Dealing Restriction: A household that includes a member who owns an approved retail food store or wholesale food concern may not redeem SNAP benefits at that store or concern.
- 4Carve-Out for Public/Government Ownership: The self-dealing restriction does not apply to stores owned by publicly owned corporations or by the government.
- 5Effective Date: The act’s provisions take effect one year after enactment.