Rep. Mace Introduces FAIR Act to Require Photo IDs on SNAP EBT Cards
The FAIR Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process within the House Committee on Agriculture. It was recently sent to a subcommittee for further review. The bill is actively moving through the system, but no future votes have been scheduled yet.
While this bill has support from some Republicans, it faces strong opposition from those who worry it will make it harder for low-income families to get food.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Small grocery stores and food retailers that accept SNAP benefits would be required to visually verify the photo on every EBT card before completing a sale. This adds a new compliance obligation that could slow checkout lines and create friction with customers, particularly for smaller operations with fewer staff. Failure to comply could put their authorization to accept SNAP at risk.
“a retail food store or wholesale food concern, before making a sale, shall demand to see, and shall inspect, the photograph located on an Electronic Benefit Transfer card for every customer using an Electronic Benefit Transfer card to ensure the purchaser is entitled to utilize or redeem benefits under this chapter.”
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
West Virginia legislators advanced a bill to require photo identification on EBT cards to prevent theft and fraud. The measure would require new cards for all recipients, with implementation delayed to 2025 to allow for policy development and retailer coordination.
Rep. Nancy Mace filed an amendment to the 2026 Farm Bill based on her FAIR Act. The amendment requires photo IDs on EBT cards updated every 10 years for adults and 5 years for children, mandating that retailers verify the identity of the cardholder at the point of sale.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
FAIR Act
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