Affordable Food and Energy Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
Introduced
Summary
Integrates energy assistance into SNAP benefit calculations. This bill would let more households use a heating-and-cooling standard utility allowance and clarify how third-party energy payments count when figuring SNAP eligibility and benefits.
Show full summary
- Low-income households that received a LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) or similar payment of more than $20 in the current month or the prior 12 months would qualify for a standard utility allowance that reflects heating and cooling costs.
- Payments made under State law to provide energy assistance would be treated as money payable directly to the household for income-counting purposes under SNAP.
- Energy expenses paid on a household's behalf under State law would be treated as out-of-pocket expenses when calculating allowable deductions for SNAP.
- State SNAP agencies that choose a heating-and-cooling standard utility allowance must make that allowance available to the eligible households described in the bill.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New energy rules for SNAP families
If enacted, this bill would change how SNAP treats energy help. You would be able to use a state's heating-and-cooling standard utility allowance (SUA) if your household got more than $20 in LIHEAP or similar energy help in the current month or the past 12 months and your state chooses that SUA. Payments your state gives directly to you for energy would be counted as money paid to your household for SNAP income rules (payments excluded under paragraph (2)(G) would not count). If your state pays your energy bill for you, that payment would count as your out-of-pocket energy expense for SNAP deductions. These changes would take effect July 4, 2025.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov