SNAP Payment Security and Fraud Prevention Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Malliotakis
Introduced
Summary
Protect SNAP benefits from cyber-enabled theft. This bill would expand the Department of Agriculture Inspector General's investigative powers and set federal cybersecurity, card replacement, and retailer terminal rules for electronic benefit transfer cards.
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- Families: Households would be reimbursed for stolen benefits and get faster card service. Unauthorized use would carry a civil penalty equal to twice the value of benefits lost and States must replace EBT cards within 3 business days, generally fee-free.
- Retailers and States: Retail food stores would need chip-enabled, mobile-friendly payment terminals to keep SNAP authorization. Federal minimum cybersecurity rules must be met and updated at least every 2 years and certain implementation deadlines fall 180 days after final regulations.
- Investigators and oversight: The Agriculture Inspector General would gain subpoena, warrant, data-access, and coordination authorities with DOJ, FBI, DHS, Secret Service, and state and local law enforcement. The Secretary must report on Puerto Rico EBT cloning risks within 1 year and publish biennial public reports on EBT security and usability.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Better EBT security for SNAP households
If enacted, the Secretary would write federal EBT cybersecurity and service rules within 2 years and update them every 5 years. States would have to provide mobile-friendly portals, apps, and a free API, keep user interfaces at least 99% available, and provide searchable 12-month transaction histories and opt-in electronic notices. States would begin issuing chip-enabled EBT cards within 2 years, stop issuing new magnetic-stripe cards in 4 years, and reissue existing magnetic-stripe cards as chip cards within 5 years. If your card is damaged, stolen, not working, or frozen for fraud, you would get a replacement by mail or in person within 3 business days. States would generally not be allowed to charge you for those kinds of replacements starting 60 days after enactment, and States could not require PIN or password rules that conflict with NIST standards beginning 60 days after enactment.
Chip terminals required for SNAP stores
If enacted, retail food stores and wholesale food concerns seeking SNAP authorization or reauthorization would need a chip-enabled payment terminal at each retail location. The requirement would start no later than 180 days after the USDA cybersecurity rules are final. The bill defines "chip-enabled" to include EMV chip and mobile-friendly capabilities, so store owners may face equipment and installation costs to comply.
Stronger SNAP fraud enforcement and fines
If enacted, the USDA Inspector General would get broader powers to investigate and coordinate multi-state and cyber-enabled theft of SNAP benefits. The IG could issue subpoenas and warrants, request data from State EBT processors and vendors, and work with DOJ, FBI, DHS, Secret Service, and state and local law enforcement. The bill would also create a civil penalty equal to twice the value of benefits taken for knowingly accessing or using SNAP benefits without authorization, and recovered funds would reimburse affected households and support IG investigations.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Malliotakis
NY • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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