Bills · HR 7316
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 7316Agriculture and Food
SNAP Payment Security and Fraud Prevention Act of 2026
INTRO FEB 2· LAST ACTION MAR 20
READING
15MIN
COSPONSORS
0
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it aims to safeguard a crucial program that helps millions of low-income Americans afford food. Currently, EBT card fraud, particularly through methods like skimming, is a growing problem that directly harms vulnerable families by stealing their much-needed grocery funds. This bill would update EBT card security to match modern banking standards, making it significantly harder for criminals to commit such theft, directly protecting the purchasing power of SNAP recipients.
If this bill becomes law, it means more secure benefits for those who rely on them, stronger tools for law enforcement to catch fraudsters, and a more robust and trustworthy system overall. If it doesn't pass, EBT cards and systems would likely remain more vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated digital theft, leaving beneficiaries at higher risk of losing their food assistance and eroding public trust in the program's integrity.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Expands the investigative authority of the USDA Inspector General to investigate and coordinate efforts against cyber-enabled SNAP benefit theft, including the ability to issue subpoenas and execute warrants.
This provides federal investigators with stronger tools and broader reach to combat modern and sophisticated forms of digital fraud targeting food assistance benefits.
PROVISION 02
Establishes a new civil penalty for anyone who knowingly accesses, uses, or transfers SNAP benefits without authorization, requiring them to pay twice the value of the stolen benefits.
This creates a direct financial consequence for fraudsters and a mechanism to recover lost funds, which can be used to reimburse victims and support anti-fraud efforts.
PROVISION 03
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to issue and regularly update cybersecurity regulations for EBT cards and mobile payments, mandating 'chip-enabled' technology and security measures that align with private sector and federal agency standards.
This modernizes EBT card security to prevent cloning and other forms of theft, bringing it up to the same security level as standard credit and debit cards.
PROVISION 04
Mandates that states provide secure, reliable, and mobile-friendly online user interfaces for SNAP recipients to manage their EBT accounts, including an Application Programming Interface (API) for third-party software access without fees.
This improves convenience and accessibility for beneficiaries to manage their accounts while encouraging innovation and ensuring fair access for third-party tools.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 0
R· New York
YRS IN OFFICE
5
BILLS LED
55
ACTION TIMELINE
4 EVENTSMAR 20
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
FEB 2
Introduced in House
FEB 2
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
FEB 2
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 7316
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 2, 2026
Last actionMar 20, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 2, 2026
House BillHR 7316Agriculture and Food
SNAP Payment Security and Fraud Prevention Act of 2026
INTRODUCED FEB 2, 2026· LAST ACTION MAR 20, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
15 min
COSPONSORS
0
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
