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Congress·In Committee·9 months ago

Congress considers plan to raise SNAP worker pay and have federal government cover full state staffing costs

Also known as: SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(2)
Snap Food Stamps
Helps
Child Tax Credit
Helps

Key Points

  • States would have to pay SNAP office workers at least what similar federal workers make, with yearly updates.
  • If a state submits a pay plan and it’s approved, the federal government would cover 100% of SNAP administrative staff costs.
  • Covered costs include hiring, training, and keeping staff, plus meeting the new wage standards.
  • States could only use the new federal money to add to current spending, not replace it, and to keep or add staff above 2024 levels.
  • For SNAP families, this could mean better-staffed offices and faster application and recertification processing, depending on state action.
EconomyLabor EmploymentConsumer Protection

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
May 22, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

May 22, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill becomes law

States create or update wage plans for SNAP administrative staff to meet the new wage floor.

SNAP offices may start planning pay increases and staffing changes. Workers may hear about upcoming pay adjustments; applicants may not feel changes yet.

Ongoing after payments begin

Maintenance-of-effort checks tied to fiscal year 2024 staffing levels.

To keep getting 100% federal payments, states must show the federal money is adding to staffing (or maintaining above) FY2024 levels, not replacing old state funding for the same roles.

Related News

4 articles
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (House website press release page)·10 months ago

Hayes Leads Legislation to Increase SNAP Employee Retention and Address Program Staffing Shortages

Announces introduction of the SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025; describes 100% federal coverage of administrative personnel costs and aligning state SNAP admin wages with federal wage standards.

CL+
Senator Ben Ray Luján (Senate website press release page)·9 months ago

Luján Reintroduces Legislation to Support Merit Staff and Protect SNAP Program Integrity

Press release on reintroduction of the SNAP Administrator Retention Act; highlights 100% federal funding for administrative personnel costs and wage alignment to federal standards.

CL+
LegiStorm·10 months ago

Hayes Leads Legislation to Increase SNAP Employee Retention and Address Program Staffing Shortages (reprint)

Syndicated copy of Rep. Hayes’ announcement describing the SNAP Administrator Retention Act’s 100% personnel cost coverage and federal wage-standard alignment.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 1905
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.