The bill amends the eligibility criteria and verification procedures for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in New Hampshire, focusing on strengthening work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD). It prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from seeking waivers or adopting discretionary exemptions from these work requirements without legislative approval. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department not grant categorical eligibility for noncash benefits and apply gross income or asset standards strictly in accordance with federal law. The department is also required to enter into data-sharing agreements with state agencies to verify SNAP eligibility based on changes in circumstances, such as employment or incarceration.

Moreover, the bill introduces measures to monitor the residency of SNAP recipients by flagging individuals who make purchases exclusively out-of-state, requiring the department to confirm their residency status and refer cases of non-residents receiving benefits to the United States Attorney’s Office. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. Key provisions also include a requirement for the department to submit a demonstration waiver to exclude candy and soft drinks from eligible SNAP foods, which is projected to incur costs of approximately $1.4 million by FY29. The repeal of broad-based categorical eligibility for SNAP could affect 20,000-25,000 households, and new tracking requirements for out-of-state SNAP usage will necessitate hiring additional staff and incurring system changes costing around $2.09 million in FY27. Overall, while the bill does not provide funding or authorize new positions, it is expected to have indeterminable fiscal impacts on state expenditures due to the various new requirements and potential loss of federal funding.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 167:7-b
As Amended by the House: 167:7-b
HB1797 text: 167:7-b