Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB302

Introduced
1/29/25  

Caption

Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments ActThis bill requires states to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and adjusts the formula for determining a state's liability rate for overpayments.As background, the SNAP quality control system measures how accurately SNAP state agencies determine a household’s eligibility and benefit amount and determines overpayments of benefits and underpayments. States that have comparatively high payment error rates for two consecutive years are assessed a penalty (i.e., liability amount). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) must use a statutory formula to determine the liability amount.Under current law, FNS must set a tolerance level for excluding small payment errors in the calculation of payment error rates (e.g., $56 or less in FY2024). This bill reduces the tolerance level for excluding small errors to $0 for FY2025 and each succeeding fiscal year.The bill also requires state agencies to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to SNAP beneficiaries.The bill adjusts the liability rate formula to reduce the state payment error rate based on the percentage of overpayments recouped by the state. Further, the bill increases the multiplier used in the liability rate formula to 25% (from 10%).

Impact

The bill's measures are likely to have significant implications on how state agencies manage SNAP payments. If enacted, it would require these agencies to adopt a more rigorous quality control system that prioritizes the swift recoupment of any overpayments. By mandating that state agencies actively pursue and recover overpayments, the bill aims to mitigate the financial burden on taxpayers who cover the costs associated with SNAP funding.

Summary

SB302, known as the Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act, proposes amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 with the primary goal of improving the accuracy of payment calculations under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill intends to reduce taxpayer costs associated with payment errors, which can occur when beneficiaries receive more benefits than they are entitled to. This legislation seeks to rectify these issues by establishing clearer guidelines for payment calculations and enhancing the processes involved in recouping overpayments made to recipients.

Contention

While the bill is primarily aimed at addressing payment accuracy, it may face opposition regarding its approach to payment errors and the burden placed on beneficiaries. Critics may argue that increased recoupment efforts could adversely affect low-income families who rely on SNAP benefits, especially if they receive notices to repay funds that they may not realize were overpayments. Additionally, there may be concerns about how these amendments would affect the administrative workload of state agencies tasked with implementing the new requirements, potentially diverting resources from other essential services.

Congress_id

119-S-302

Policy_area

Agriculture and Food

Introduced_date

2025-01-29

Companion Bills

US HB762

Identical bill Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments ActThis bill requires states to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients and adjusts the formula for determining a state's liability rate for overpayments.As background, the SNAP quality control system measures how accurately SNAP state agencies determine a household’s eligibility and benefit amount and determines overpayments of benefits and underpayments. States that have comparatively high payment error rates for two consecutive years are assessed a penalty (i.e., liability amount). The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) must use a statutory formula to determine the liability amount.Under current law, FNS must set a tolerance level for excluding small payment errors in the calculation of payment error rates (e.g., $56 or less in FY2024). This bill reduces the tolerance level for excluding small errors to $0 for FY2025 and each succeeding fiscal year.The bill also requires state agencies to recoup any overpayments of benefits made to SNAP beneficiaries.The bill adjusts the liability rate formula to reduce the state payment error rate based on the percentage of overpayments recouped by the state. Further, the bill increases the multiplier used in the liability rate formula to 25% (from 10%).

Previously Filed As

US SB2923

Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act

US HB6501

Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act

US HB253

Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act This bill sets out a process to enable Puerto Rico to participate as a state in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under current law, a state receives SNAP funding based on the number of participating households in the state whereas Puerto Rico receives a block grant to fund its nutrition assistance program. The bill requires Puerto Rico to submit to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) a plan of operation to transition away from the consolidated block grant program to SNAP. USDA must provide appropriate training and technical assistance to enable Puerto Rico to formulate such plan.

US HB205

SNAP Theft Protection Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish criteria for state agencies to identify Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen by identity theft or typical skimming practices and provide for the reissuance of stolen SNAP benefits to households that meet such criteria. USDA must periodically review and modify its regulations to take into account evolving technology and the threat landscape to better protect against theft.

US SB5413

A bill to amend the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to provide rules for payments to Havlish Settling Judgment Creditors.

US SB74

Providing for Life Act of 2023 This bill revises various programs and supports for families and children related to taxes, health, and other benefits. First, the bill increases the child tax credit to a maximum of $3,500 per child ($4,500 per child under the age of six) and makes permanent the increased income threshold over which the credit phases out. The bill further eliminates the federal deduction for certain state and local taxes (SALT deduction) and makes the adoption tax credit refundable. The bill allows parents to use a portion of their Social Security benefits for up to three months of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. Additionally, the bill requires Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to cooperate with states in establishing child support orders. It also provides additional workforce training for noncustodial parents with child support obligations. States must establish requirements for the biological father of a child to pay, at the mother's request, at least 50% of reasonable out-of-pocket medical expenses associated with the mother's pregnancy and delivery. The bill requires institutions of higher education to provide students with certain information about the resources and services (excluding abortion services) available to pregnant students. Additionally, the bill provides grants for community-based maternal mentoring programs and for pregnancy resource centers that do not provide abortions; requires the Department of Health and Human Services to publish a website with specified pregnancy-related information; and extends from one to two years the postpartum benefit eligibility period under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

US SB39

Let's Get to Work Act of 2023 This bill modifies and expands work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and certain housing programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Specifically, the bill repeals the temporary suspension of work requirements due to COVID-19 that allowed participants who would have lost eligibility due to such requirements to continue to receive SNAP benefits. It also expands work requirements under SNAP to apply to all able-bodied adults receiving benefits who are under the age of 60 (currently 50) as well as to individuals who have children over the age of 6. The bill exempts from work requirements an individual who is responsible for a dependent and married to, and resides with, an individual who is in compliance with the work requirements. The bill terminates a state's authority to provide exemptions to individuals who do not meet work requirements. Additionally, the bill establishes work requirements for families residing in public housing by applying SNAP work requirements to the HUD public housing and tenant-based rental assistance (voucher) programs.

US HB309

Opportunity To Address College Hunger Act This bill requires institutions of higher education (IHEs) that receive grants to operate work-study programs to notify a student receiving work-study assistance that the student may be eligible for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Department of Education must provide guidance to states and IHEs on how to identify and communicate with students who are potentially eligible for SNAP.

US HB485

Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act of 2023 This bill prohibits all federal health care programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and federally funded state health care programs (e.g., Medicaid) from using prices that are based on quality-adjusted life years (i.e., measures that discount the value of a life based on disability) to determine relevant thresholds for coverage, reimbursements, or incentive programs.

US HB7326

To amend chapters 4, 10, and 131 of title 5, United States Code, as necessary to keep those chapters current and to correct related technical errors.

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