By Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection
In Summary:
A proposed federal Farm Bill would increase Florida’s share of administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from 50% to 75% beginning in October 2026. Starting in 2028, Florida would also be required to cover a portion of SNAP benefit costs because the state’s error rate exceeds the federal target. Advocates say the cost shift could strain state budgets and reduce access to food assistance for vulnerable populations, including veterans, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness.
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A new Farm Bill proposal before Congress would keep deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in place, leaving Florida with more than $1 billion in added costs.
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The state’s share of administrative expenses would rise from 50% to 75% starting in October. Beginning in 2028, Florida would also have to cover a portion of benefit costs, because its 15% error rate exceeds the federal target of 6%.
Kim Johnson, president and CEO of Florida Impact, has spent her entire career helping families access SNAP food assistance. Like her, the lifeline is now 60 years old.
"We're a small organization, but a mighty organization that has spent many, many years doing the work of helping families to access our nutrition programs," said Johnson. "And I would have never have thought in my lifetime, right now, guess I'm 60 and so SNAP is about 60, I think, that we ever would have saw this."
The proposal would increase Florida’s administrative costs by an estimated $205 million and shift roughly $982 million in benefit costs to the state starting in fiscal year 2028. Supporters of the reforms argue they're needed to reduce the federal deficit and ensure program integrity.
Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research and Action Center, said the shift in costs will put immense pressure on state budgets. She added that beyond that shift, Congress also expanded certain limits and work requirements, and eliminated exemptions for vulnerable groups.
That includes veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and older adults up to age 64.
"It's going to cause people to do a lot more administrative work," said FitzSimons. "It's going to lead to people losing their benefits. And we know what a crisis that is, when people lose their benefits. For every one meal that the emergency food system provides, SNAP provides nine."
SNAP serves about 42 million Americans nationwide, with most participants being children, veterans, older adults, and people with disabilities. The administrative cost shift takes effect on October 1, 2026, with the benefits cost shift a year later.
FitzSimons encouraged Floridians to contact both state legislators and members of Congress to urge them to reverse the cuts before they take effect.
Key Points:
- The proposed Farm Bill would increase Florida’s share of SNAP administrative costs from 50% to 75% starting October 1, 2026.
- Florida could also be required to pay about $982 million in SNAP benefits beginning in fiscal year 2028 because its error rate exceeds the federal target.
- The administrative cost increase alone could add about $205 million in state expenses.
- The proposal would expand work requirements and remove exemptions for groups including veterans, older adults up to age 64, and people experiencing homelessness.
- SNAP currently serves about 42 million Americans, with most participants being children, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities.
