The proposed bill, Substitute Senate Bill No. 1418, aims to enhance food security by implementing several key measures through the Department of Social Services (DSS). Firstly, it mandates the DSS commissioner to increase the minimum monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit from the current federal minimum of $23 to $95, thereby significantly boosting financial support for low-income households. Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner to apply for a federal Section 1115 demonstration waiver to provide Medicaid coverage for "food as medicine," which encompasses nutritional and meal preparation planning aimed at treating chronic health conditions. A report on the impact of this initiative on Medicaid beneficiaries is to be submitted to the relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2026.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a healthy food incentive program, which will be established by September 1, 2025, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture. This program will allow SNAP beneficiaries to receive a one-dollar credit for every dollar spent on fresh produce at certified farmers' markets, with a cap of $50 per month. The bill's provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and are expected to incur significant costs, including approximately $18 million annually for the increased SNAP benefits and additional costs associated with the healthy food incentive program.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-215, 10-215b
HS Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 437: