Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Bonamici
Introduced
Summary
Expands nutrition access for older adults and adults with disabilities. The bill lengthens SNAP certification, creates simpler application paths, funds outreach, and boosts farmers market and local procurement supports to make benefits easier to get and use.
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- Older adults and people with disabilities see simpler rules and steadier benefits. Certification periods extend from 24 to 36 months, the definition of "elderly and disabled" is broadened to include some Social Security and SSI applicants, and a standard medical deduction is set at $155 for FY2027 with future inflation adjustments.
- SNAP application and delivery systems get streamlined and more flexible. The bill creates an Elderly Simplified Application Program and a Combined Application Program to cut interviews and automate eligibility, and it authorizes EBT‑enabled home delivery with reimbursements capped at $10 per delivery.
- Markets, local procurement, and supplemental programs receive new funding and pilots. It authorizes at least $60 million for the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program in FY2027, $50 million per year from CCC for farmers’ market infrastructure for FY2027–2031, and new CSFP and pilot grant pots to support outreach and local sourcing.
*Increases federal spending through multiple new mandatory and discretionary funding authorizations across SNAP, CSFP, SFMNP, and market infrastructure.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Higher SNAP benefit rules and deduction
This bill would change two rules that can raise SNAP payments. It would replace the "excess medical" deduction with a standard medical deduction of $155 for FY2027 and then index it each year to the Medical Care CPI. It would also change a numeric term used in the SNAP allotment formula by replacing "8 percent" with "1/3," which would alter how USDA and States compute benefits.
Bigger and modernized farmers market aid
This bill would expand and modernize the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. It would add adults with disabilities, set individual benefits between $35 and $80, and allow 36-month certification. It would also create $15 million per year in modernization grants and make SFMNP mandatory with at least $60M in FY2027, $70M in FY2028, and $100M per year from FY2029 to FY2031.
Expanded food aid for low-income adults
This bill would let low-income adults with disabilities join the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. To qualify, gross income would have to be under 185% of the Federal poverty line. The program would use 36-month certifications and receive $10,000,000 per year for FY2027 through FY2031.
Grants to boost SNAP enrollment
This bill would create a pilot that gives grants to groups that enroll older adults, kinship caregivers, and people with disabilities into SNAP. Grants would be $50,000 to $250,000 per year for up to 5 years. The program would get $12,250,000 total, include an evaluation due in 2 years, and prioritize work in high-need communities.
Simpler SNAP for seniors and disabled
This bill would let States offer simpler SNAP application options for older adults and people with disabilities. It would create an Elderly Simplified Application Program and a Combined Application Program to speed enrollment and cut paperwork. The Secretary must set up these programs within 180 days and extend certification to 36 months for qualifying households. The bill would also expand who counts as "elderly and disabled" under SNAP so Title II disability and SSI beneficiaries are included.
SNAP food delivery and protections
This bill would let States reimburse stores for SNAP home delivery for older adults and disabled adults who cannot shop or lack safe transport. Reimbursements would be up to $10 per delivery (indexed for inflation) and could pay for delivery fees or point-of-sale devices. Stores could not charge participants for reimbursed delivery, add surge pricing, or set minimum purchase thresholds tied to delivery. States must submit delivery plans and the Secretary must act on them quickly.
Money for local markets and farms
This bill would fund farmers' market infrastructure and local procurement pilots. The Commodity Credit Corporation would provide $50 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 to build and upgrade markets and require a 20% non-federal match. It would also fund a Local Procurement Pilot with $350,000 per year and require an evaluation within 2 years.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bonamici
OR • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
McClellan
VA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/21/2026
Keating
MA • D
Sponsored 4/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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