In the near future, I will introduce companion legislation to HB2540 amending the Human Services Code to require that all EBT cards issued by the Department of Human Services have chip-enabled technology. This legislation will combat the scourge of “SNAP skimming,” or theft of nutrition assistance benefits via card readers rigged with illegal devices that can steal card information and drain funds. These thefts occur on cards that require swiping during store checkout, leaving EBT cards uniquely vulnerable. Contactless payment via chip-enabled technology can prevent this information from being stolen, protecting Pennsylvania’s nearly 2 million SNAP recipients from benefits theft.

According to the Pennsylvania Office of the State Inspector General, since January 2026 there have been more than 5,100 cases of SNAP skimming reported in Pennsylvania, totaling nearly $2.5 million in stolen benefits. As SNAP skimming becomes an epidemic nationwide, costing SNAP recipients over half a billion dollars in benefits, states across the country such as Alabama, California, Oklahoma, and Virginia have been moving swiftly to combat this fraud by requiring chip-enabled technology in EBT cards. Initiating the transition to chip-enabled EBT cards now will enable Pennsylvania to draw down more federal dollars at the current 50/50 cost-share before it changes to 75/25 in October.

Modernizing SNAP by transitioning to secure, chip-enabled EBT cards will prevent fraud, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure Pennsylvania’s SNAP recipients can reliably put food on the table. Please join me in cosponsoring this critical legislation for our neediest constituents.