1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to food support; establishing the Minnesota SNAP step up for seniors
1.3 program; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
1.4 Statutes, chapter 142F.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. [142F.121] MINNESOTA SNAP STEP UP FOR SENIORS PROGRAM.
1.7 Subdivision 1.Program established.The commissioner of children, youth, and families
1.8shall establish the Minnesota SNAP step up for seniors program to supplement the minimum
1.9monthly benefit amount for eligible seniors who receive federal Supplemental Nutrition
1.10Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
1.11 Subd. 2.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
1.12meanings given.
1.13 (b) "Eligible senior" means an individual age 55 or older.
1.14 (c) "Minimum monthly benefit amount" means $50.
1.15 Subd. 3.Supplemental benefit.Under this program, if a household includes an eligible
1.16senior and receives a federally funded SNAP benefit of less than the minimum monthly
1.17benefit amount, the state shall provide a supplement to increase the total benefit to at least
1.18the minimum monthly benefit amount. Households with an eligible senior must receive the
1.19supplemental benefit under this section in addition to the federal SNAP benefit.
1.20 Subd. 4.Prohibition on counting supplemental benefit as income.The benefit amount
1.21received by an eligible senior or household under this section is not counted as income for
1.22any program that does not count SNAP benefits as income.
1Section 1.
REVISOR DTT/BM 25-0164812/24/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1146
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Coulter, Hemmingsen-Jaeger and Hicks02/19/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Children and Families Finance and Policy 2.1 Subd. 5.Program administration.(a) The program under this section is subject to the
2.2same federal and state regulations, rules, and procedures for implementing the federal SNAP
2.3as much as possible, including but not limited to distributing the program benefit amount
2.4through the SNAP electronic benefit transfer system.
2.5 (b) The commissioner may increase the minimum monthly benefit amount established
2.6in this section as deemed appropriate and subject to state appropriations and federal funding.
2.7 (c) If federal funds become available for the purpose of this section, the commissioner
2.8shall utilize the federal funds as the primary source for issuing the monthly supplemental
2.9benefit before any state funds are used.
2.10 Sec. 2. FEDERAL WAIVER OR APPROVAL; MINNESOTA SNAP STEP UP FOR
2.11SENIORS PROGRAM.
2.12 The commissioner of human services shall apply to the United States Department of
2.13Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service for any necessary waivers or approvals to implement
2.14the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 142F.121.
2.15 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; MINNESOTA SNAP STEP UP FOR SENIORS
2.16PROGRAM.
2.17 $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the general
2.18fund to the commissioner of children, youth, and families for the Minnesota SNAP step up
2.19for seniors program under Minnesota Statutes, section 142F.121.
2Sec. 3.
REVISOR DTT/BM 25-0164812/24/24