Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7658

Rep. Goldman Introduces Bill to Require Chip-Enabled EBT Cards to Stop SNAP Benefit Theft

Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026

18 days ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill requires states to switch from old magnetic stripe EBT cards to modern chip-enabled cards. This change is designed to stop 'skimming,' which is when criminals use hidden devices on card readers to steal benefit information and drain accounts.
States would have two years to start giving out the new chip cards. Within five years, all old magnetic stripe cards must be replaced. The federal government will pay states back for the costs of making these upgrades, including the price of the new cards and postage.
If a card is stolen, damaged, or frozen because of fraud, the state must get a replacement to the family within three business days. Families can choose to have the new card mailed to them or pick it up in person.
The bill bans states from charging fees to replace cards that break, expire, or are compromised by fraud. It also requires states to provide mobile-friendly apps or websites where users can check their balance, see a year's worth of history, and report suspicious activity.
To keep accepting SNAP benefits, grocery stores and other retailers will be required to have card readers that can process chip cards. Small stores in rural areas or places with few grocery options can apply for government grants to help pay for these new machines.

AgricultureTechnology DigitalCriminal Justice

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 24, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Feb 24, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

60 days after enactment

States must stop charging fees for replacing EBT cards lost to fraud, malfunction, or expiration, and must follow updated PIN/password rules

SNAP households no longer pay out of pocket when their card breaks, expires, or gets compromised by a scammer — these protections kick in 60 days after the bill becomes law

Related News

6 articles

City Limits·8 days ago

Federal Bill Would Upgrade EBT Cards to Prevent 'Skimming' Thefts

Rep. Dan Goldman and Mike Lawler introduced the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act to equip EBT cards with security chips. The bill requires the USDA to transition all participants to chip technology within five years and mandates free replacement cards within three days for theft victims.

CL+

New York Today·10 days ago

Congress Proposes Chip-Enabled SNAP Cards to Combat Benefit Theft

Lawmakers introduced the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act to require chip-enabled cards and stronger cybersecurity rules. States would have two years to begin issuing chip cards and five years to replace all magnetic stripe cards, with the federal government covering the upgrade costs.

Townhall·9 days ago

$360 Million Stolen: New Bill Targets Rampant SNAP Card Skimming

A bipartisan group including Sens. Fetterman, Wyden, and Cassidy introduced the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act. The legislation aims to curb a massive rise in benefit theft by replacing outdated magnetic stripe cards with secure chips and providing grants for small grocers to upgrade systems.