Bill · S. 1197· Senate(119-S-1197)
SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 3/27/2025
- Last activity
- 3/27/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Mike Lee
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act of 2025 aims to help individuals on the supplemental nutrition assistance program achieve self-sufficiency. Title I focuses on improving poverty measurement by directing the Census Bureau to collect more detailed data on federal benefits and income. This includes creating an alternative poverty measure and establishing a commission to value government benefits. Title II introduces significant changes to the SNAP program, including stricter work requirements and new eligibility criteria. It also implements a sliding scale for state matching funds and introduces stricter rules regarding electronic benefit transfer card usage.
Yes
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The bill increases transparency by requiring better data collection on poverty and reporting on program outcomes.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-5
The bill implements stricter work requirements, new eligibility thresholds, and potential benefit suspensions that harm low-income households.
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?-4
The bill introduces stricter work requirements and new eligibility barriers that may reduce access to food assistance for vulnerable populations.
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-3
The bill imposes significant new financial matching requirements on states for SNAP administration.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Poverty Measurement: The Director of the Census Bureau will collect more detailed data on participation in Federal benefit programs and total resource unit income to more accurately determine the extent of poverty in the United States (Section 101(b)(1)).
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Enhanced Transparency of Program Outcomes: The Secretary of Agriculture must submit a report detailing the outcomes of SNAP beneficiaries in employment and training programs, including job retention and wage changes (Section 202).
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Increased Accountability for Retailers: State agencies are given the power to permanently disqualify retail food stores or wholesale concerns convicted of food instrument trafficking or exchanging food for controlled substances (Section 209).
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Fraud Prevention: The bill establishes rules for authorized users of EBT cards to help prevent unauthorized use (Section 206).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Stricter Work Requirements: The bill modifies SNAP to include different work or work preparation hours for married couples with children and changes the requirements for job search programs (Section 201).
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New Eligibility Barriers: To be deemed eligible for SNAP, a household must now receive a cash or noncash means-tested public benefit for at least 6 consecutive months valued at not less than $50 (Section 204).
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Increased Financial Burden on States: States participating in SNAP will be required to contribute matching funds that increase annually, reaching 50 percent by fiscal year 2033 (Section 203).
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Penalties for Unauthorized EBT Use: Households may face the suspension of benefits if an EBT card is used by an unauthorized user a certain number of times (Section 206).
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Restrictions on Food Definitions: The definition of food for the program is modified to include only those items determined to be essential by the Secretary (Section 201(b)).
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 Low Income Households-5Good For Children-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction-4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increase States Rights-3
- 3/27/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.