SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025
SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025 - Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would increase federal funding for state food stamp (SNAP) program administration. Currently, the federal government pays for 50% of states' administrative costs for running SNAP; this bill would increase that to 100%. Additionally, it would require that state SNAP administrators be paid at least as much as federal employees in comparable positions. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill primarily affects state SNAP agencies and their employees, as well as people who receive food assistance benefits. States could use the increased federal funding to hire more staff, train employees better, and increase administrator salaries.
However, the bill includes a safeguard: states must use these funds to pay for new positions or salary increases, not to replace existing state funding they already spend on SNAP administration. The funding would only apply to positions above the number of staff each state had in 2024. **Current Status** As of now, the bill (S. 1905) is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in the 119th Congress.
CRS Official Summary
SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025This bill directs the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to pay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state agencies for 100% of SNAP administrative personnel costs. The bill also requires that state SNAP agency administrators be paid at least the same amount as federal employees. (Under current law, FNS generally pays 50% of a state's administrative costs for SNAP.)Specifically, FNS must pay a state agency for 100% of all SNAP administrative personnel costs that are part of an FNS-approved state agency personnel wage plan. This must include all costs associated with hiring and training new employees, maintaining those personnel costs, and complying with wage standards. The state agency must use these funds (1) to supplement, not supplant, nonfederal funds used for existing administrative personnel costs; and (2) for existing or additional full-time positions that are above the number of positions that were held in FY2024.The bill also requires that the wage standards for SNAP state agency administrators be (1) at least the same amount as the General Schedule (GS) pay rate for federal employees; and (2) updated annually based on any increase in the GS pay rate, including locality adjustments.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.