Ending Stolen SNAP Benefits Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced
Summary
Reissue stolen SNAP benefits to households hit by identity theft or card skimming, and help states move from magnetic-stripe to chip-enabled electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.
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- Families and households: Would allow replacement SNAP benefits when theft meets new federal criteria. Rules must minimize the paperwork burden on victim households.
- State agencies: Would permit states to reissue stolen benefits to the same household if the state has an approved transition plan. The bill also offers federal cost-sharing to convert magnetic-stripe EBT cards to chip-enabled cards, with that cost-share authority ending in 2031.
- Federal oversight and technology: Would require the Agriculture Secretary to issue regulations that set identification criteria and best practices for finding and reissuing stolen benefits. The Secretary must publish a status report within 240 days after issuing rules and then annual, state-level reports within 120 days after each fiscal year.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Replace stolen SNAP benefits
If enacted, the Agriculture Secretary would issue rules letting State agencies reissue SNAP benefits stolen by identity theft or by card skimming. The rules would set criteria and best practices that reduce the burden on victims to prove theft and would allow replacement benefits to eligible households. Reissuance to the same household would be allowed only if the Secretary has approved the State agency's transition plan under the bill. The Secretary would have to publish a status report 240 days after issuing the rules and send annual reports 120 days after each fiscal year with totals of reissued benefits by State.
Federal help to switch EBT cards
If enacted, the Secretary would pay each approved State agency 90 percent of eligible administrative costs to switch from magnetic-stripe to chip-enabled EBT cards that meet the ANSI X9.58-2024 standard (or a successor). Eligible costs would include card issuance, one-time vendor fees, planning, testing, and education and outreach in accessible languages. Each State would have to submit a transition plan with system testing, retailer and household outreach, and steps to avoid interruptions; the Secretary must approve or disapprove within 90 days or the plan would be deemed approved. The payment program and the plan requirement would sunset on September 30, 2031, and the Secretary would periodically review and update rules to reflect evolving technology and threats.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov