Senate Ag & Nutrition Text Released on Reconciliation Bill
Late Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry released the details of the GOP’s reconciliation bill. While the package originally focused on extending tax provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, it expanded significantly in scope when introduced by the House. A key change in the Senate version involves the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The House had proposed requiring all states to assume a portion of both benefit and administrative costs. The Senate’s version scales this back—states would be required to contribute to SNAP benefit payments only if their payment error rate exceeds 6%, with the required cost share increasing at higher error levels. In 2023, California’s error rate was 13.4%, compared to the national average of 11.7%, potentially placing the state at a 15% cost share if current trends hold.
Most other agricultural provisions in the Senate draft align with the House version. The reconciliation package will still need to be negotiated in a conference committee. A section-by-section summary of the bill can be found here. Staff Contact: Matthew Viohl, mviohl@cfbf.com
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