The U.S. House in May passed legislation that would take food assistance away from many Alabamians who are already struggling to afford groceries. A U.S. Senate committee in June approved similar legislation. These cuts would help pay for extending huge tax breaks for the wealthiest households. The bill would target the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the largest cut in its history. People living in rural, urban and suburban areas across Alabama all would pay the price.

This bill would harm people across our state. Here is what’s at stake for Alabama:

Passes the buck for SNAP funding to the Alabama Legislature.

The bill could require Alabama to pay between 5% to 15% of SNAP benefit costs, which would cost the General Fund an estimated $86 million to $258 million a year. In addition, states would have to come up with additional administrative funds for SNAP, which could add another $35 million to Alabama’s costs. This unfunded mandate could force legislators to reduce SNAP benefits, limit SNAP participation and/or cut funding for other vital services. In a worst-case scenario, the state could opt out of SNAP entirely, ending food assistance for nearly 800,000 Alabamians. That would send hunger soaring and devastate grocers, especially in rural areas.

Takes food assistance away from many families with young children.

Tens of thousands of Alabamians with school-aged children would be at risk of losing some or all of their food assistance. This would result from an expansion of red-tape time limits to parents and other caretakers of children aged 14 and older.

Takes food assistance away from many veterans and homeless people

The bill approved by the Senate committee would deny SNAP assistance to refugees, people granted asylum, and some victims of domestic violence, sex trafficking or labor trafficking. It also would impose stringent time limits on many SNAP participants – including veterans, people who are homeless and children aging out of foster care – who cannot comply with complex paperwork requirements.

Reduces SNAP benefits over time for everyone receiving food assistance.

The bill effectively would freeze the value of SNAP benefits at their current level unless Congress voted otherwise. This would make it harder for families to keep up with rising food costs in years when those costs increase more than inflation.

Updated June 25, 2025, to reflect proposed changes in the U.S. Senate.