Bill · H.R. 6457· House(119-HR-6457)
FAIR Act
- Introduced
- 12/4/2025
- Last activity
- 1/13/2026 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- Sponsored by
- Nancy Mace
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Food Assistance Integrity and Responsibility Act" or "FAIR Act" seeks to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. It requires that every Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card include a photograph of the authorized cardholder on the face of the card. The photo must have been taken within the last ten years, or within the last five years for minors. Additionally, the bill mandates that retailers inspect these photographs before making a sale to verify identity. The law also allows for the issuance of individual cards to multiple household members and establishes procedures for caregiver accommodations.
Yes
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+2
The bill mandates that the Secretary establish reasonable accommodations for caregivers of individuals with disabilities.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+1
The bill increases identity verification standards to prevent fraudulent use of government benefits.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-3
The requirement for specific photographic identification may create a barrier to accessing food assistance for low-income individuals.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-3
The bill imposes a new administrative burden on retail food stores to demand and inspect photographs before completing sales.
Would children be better off under this?-2
Minors face stricter photo recency requirements of five years compared to ten years for adults.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Identity Verification for Retailers: The bill requires retailers to verify the identity of the cardholder by inspecting the photograph on the card to prevent fraudulent purchases (Section 2(b)).
-
Access for Multiple Household Members: State agencies may issue individual cards to each authorized member of a household, including their specific name and photograph (Section 2(a)(3)(C)).
-
Accommodations for Caregivers: The Secretary is tasked with creating procedures that allow caregivers to access benefits on behalf of minors, elderly individuals, or individuals with disabilities (Section 2(a)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Mandatory Identity Checks at Point of Sale: Retail food stores or wholesale food concerns must demand to see and inspect the photograph on an EBT card before completing a sale (Section 2(b)(5)).
-
Strict Photo Recency Requirements: Cardholders must ensure their photo is current, with requirements that photos be taken within the previous ten years or within the previous five years for minors (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+2Good For Low Income Households-3Good For Children-2Good For Seniors-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction-2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- 1/13/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
- 12/4/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Lauren BoebertRepublican · Colorado
Barry MooreRepublican · Alabama