SNAP Policy Navigator | Insights and Updates from NCSL

State governments are facing unprecedented challenges in administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to two converging pressures: the ongoing federal government shutdown and sweeping reforms introduced in the 2025 federal budget reconciliation bill. The shutdown has disrupted USDA operations, threatening timely disbursement of SNAP benefits for November 2025 and leaving states with uncertainty regarding procedural operations, reimbursement for ongoing administrative and program costs and the availability of federal contingency funds.

Beyond the shutdown, states face a pivotal moment as federal policy shifts reshape SNAP. The reconciliation bill requires significant operational and fiscal changes-including stricter work requirements, changes in benefit calculations and eligibility, increased program administrative costs, and a new responsibility to share in benefit costs.

With close to 42 million Americans relying on the program-including children, older adults and people with disabilities-understanding and preparing for upcoming changes is essential to safeguarding food security and fiscal stability across the states.

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  SNAP SMARTS: Reducing Error Rates and Understanding Federal Changes

  Oct. 14, 2025

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  Feeding Growth: The Economic Impact of SNAP on States and Rural Communities

  Oct. 16, 2025

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  Policy to Practice: States Share Insights on SNAP Changes

  Capital Forum Session

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  Economic Mobility Enacted Legislation Database

  Economic mobility is a vast and interrelated policy topic. This database tracks topics as they intersect with children, youth and family well-being. It includes enacted legislation from 2021 to present and is updated at least weekly.

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  Shutdown Stalemate Could Delay November SNAP Benefits

  The USDA has instructed state agencies to hold food stamp benefits until further notice.

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  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides nutrition assistance for low-income, food-insecure households and individuals.
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  How the Federal Reconciliation Bill Will Affect Farms and Food Policy

  The tax and spending bill addresses issues typically covered in a traditional farm bill: commodities, crop insurance, conservation and nutrition.

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  How SNAP and Medicaid Changes Will Impact State Education Budgets

  Less federal spending on these programs could have implications for state and local school budgets.

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  Policies for the Jurisdiction of the Children, Families and Human Services Standing Committee

  The policies of the NCSL Standing Committee on Children, Families and Human Services.

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  NCSL Raises Concerns About SNAP Cost Shifts to States

  We are writing to express our concerns about provisions in the House Agriculture reconciliation bill that would result in a significant cost shift to states for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
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  NCSL Urges USDA to Issue Immediate Guidance on SNAP

  We urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue immediate and comprehensive guidance for implementing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in light of both the ongoing federal government shutdown as well as provisions included in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill.
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  Capitol to Capitol | Oct. 27, 2025

  In this issue of Capitol to Capitol NCSL Letters on Shutdown, SNAP Update, Additional $41M Secured for Rural Airports, and more.

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  State by State Payment Error Rates (USDA)

  The individual state payment error rates measure the accuracy of each state's eligibility and benefit determinations while the national performance measure or national payment error rate represents the average of these rates, weighted by state caseload sizes.
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  State by State Breakdown of Administrative Cost Increase and Benefit Cost Shift (FFIS)

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  USDA Shutdown Contingency Plan
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  USDA Memo - Contingency Funds

  Impact of the Government Lapse on November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Household Benefits
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  State Funded Emergency SNAP Program 2025 Guide
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  SNAP Shutdown State Solution Profile Virginia