Virginia Commission to End Hunger Agenda Item II:

Transcript:Virginia Commission to End Hunger Agenda Item II::
Virginia Commission to End Hunger Agenda Item II: Legislative Trends in Addressing Food Insecurity Across the States Julia Bergamini and Hannah Yates, Attorneys, Division of Legislative Services Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Presentation Overview: Legislative trends across states relating to: SNAP eligibility, registration, and benefits incentive programs K-12 Education Free School Meals; Farm-to-School Programs and local produce partnerships, purchasing incentives, and accessibility; Other; Higher Education SNAP eligibility; Assisting students in navigating and accessing support services and resources; Hunger-Free Campus Grant Programs; and Other 2 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—Registration. Several states have introduced and passed legislation aimed at simplifying the SNAP registration process, including: Texas SB224 (effective 09/01/2021)—Simplifies the SNAP registration process specifically for seniors and individuals with disabilities by extending the recertification deadline, shortening the application form, and allowing registration by phone; New Jersey—Passed the following three bills, all during the 2020-2021 session, simplifying the SNAP registration process: A4240: allowed registration by phone; A2281: For seniors, provides shorter registration form and allows for cross-enrollment between Medicaid and SNAP; and A 5880: Authorized the creation of a mobile app for state residents to register for SNAP and track their benefits. 3 SNAP, cont.—Eligibility. Several states have proposed legislation aimed at expanding eligibility for SNAP, eliminating barriers to establishing eligibility, and reducing “benefit cliffs” by ensuring increase in income does not result in automatic loss of benefits. Examples include: Maine H538 (2021)—Eliminated asset test; permits individuals to participate regardless of value of countable resources; Nebraska LB108 (2021)—Adjusted gross income eligibility limit and asset test to reduce benefit cliffs by allowing individuals to increase income without losing benefits; Missouri SB45 (2023)—Established transitional assistance programs to reduce benefit cliffs by establishing a gradual decrease in monthly benefits proportional to increase in income. 4 SNAP, cont.—Other. Local Agriculture Incentive Programs—legislation aimed at creating financial incentives to use SNAP benefits for locally grown produce. Example: Arizona SB1845 (2021)—Establishes a plan to price match SNAP purchases of eligible Arizona-grown produce. 5 K-12 Education—Free School Meals. As of April 2024, eight states have passed legislation to provide universal free school meals to all students regardless of income, including: California—Universal Meals Program (enacted 2022) requires each public school and charter school serving students in grades K-12 to provide two meals free of charge (breakfast and lunch) during each school day to each student requesting a meal, regardless of the student’s eligibility for free or reduced price meals; Massachusetts H4040