Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would modernize Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems by requiring strong digital protections and the rollout of chip-enabled EBT cards to better stop benefit theft and card cloning. It pairs technical standards with consumer fraud protections and state reimbursements to help carry out the upgrade.
Show full summary
- Households would get transaction notices and 12 months of access to transaction history on mobile or web interfaces, the ability to report fraud, enrollment status checks, and replacement EBT cards within 3 business days with no replacement fees. States must keep online interfaces available at least 99 percent of the time.
- States and stores would face hardware and software upgrades. States would need to begin issuing chip-enabled cards within 2 years after final rules and phase out new magnetic-stripe cards by year 4 with full reissuance by year 5. Participating retailers would need chip-compatible terminals and the bill would reimburse States for upgrade costs and fund grants to help stores replace point-of-sale hardware.
- Federal oversight would tighten. The Agriculture Secretary would set mandatory cybersecurity and digital service rules within 2 years, review them at least every 5 years, collect and publish outage and security data, and issue reports on theft and security trends starting within 3 years and every 2 years after that.
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
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Easier, faster EBT access for households
If enacted, States would have to give a replacement EBT card within 3 business days when a card is damaged, stolen, not working, or frozen for fraud. Beginning 60 days after enactment, States could not charge replacement fees for card malfunctions, outside fraud, expiration, or required regulatory replacements. States would have to offer mobile-friendly web portals that are available at least 99% of the time, a free API for third-party apps, and (for 10 years after final rules) text, voice, and a nondigital option. If you opt in, you would get electronic transaction notices and searchable access to at least 12 months of transactions. You would also be able to check your enrollment status and recertification date through each interface, and States could not force periodic PIN or password changes that conflict with NIST SP 800-63B.
Stronger EBT security and chip cards
If enacted, USDA would have to issue mandatory EBT cybersecurity and digital-service rules within 2 years and update them at least every 5 years. After those rules are final, States would start issuing chip-enabled EBT cards within 2 years, stop issuing new magnetic-stripe cards within 4 years, and replace all existing magnetic-stripe cards with chip-only cards within 5 years. The Secretary would reimburse States for reasonable upgrade costs, including one-time vendor costs, additional annual chip-card fees, and postage or delivery costs. USDA would also publish outage and State cybersecurity data, send public reports on theft trends and online-transaction theft on specified timelines, and must submit a separate Puerto Rico report on EBT cloning resistance within 1 year.
New chip terminal rules for retailers
If enacted, retail food stores and wholesale food concerns seeking SNAP authorization or reauthorization would need a chip-enabled payment terminal at each location within 180 days after USDA's rules are final. The bill would also create a grant program to fund an administering entity that gives subgrants to eligible SNAP retailers in limited grocery access areas to buy chip-compatible terminals that support contact and contactless payments. The grants would start on enactment and must be used to upgrade terminals.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov