OHH SNAP Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill expands food stamp (SNAP) eligibility for college students with the highest financial need. Students whose Student Aid Index is zero or below on their federal financial aid forms would automatically qualify for SNAP benefits.
• Independent students, including those who are veterans, homeless, or formerly in foster care, would also gain easier access to food assistance under the bill.
• The bill changes work requirements so that attending college counts toward them. Right now, many students lose SNAP eligibility because they cannot meet work hour requirements on top of their coursework.
• The bill also removes the current rule that counts educational loans as income for SNAP eligibility purposes, which currently disqualifies some students who take out loans to pay for school.
• If signed into law, the changes would take effect 180 days after enactment and would not apply to certification periods that already started before that date.