Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (8 Apr 2021): Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
What this bill does
H.R. 1413, the Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021, would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to broaden how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can be redeemed online. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to award one or more competitive contracts to develop an "EBT Online Redemption Portal" that would let SNAP participants use EBT cards for online or mobile purchases and delivery from authorized retailers, with specific security, accessibility, and disaster-recovery requirements, a beta version within 120 days of contract award, full deployment within 180 days after that, and a status report to Congress. It also removes the current limit on which states can offer online SNAP purchasing, requiring nationwide availability, and creates a "SNAP Online Purchasing Technical Assistance Center" to help state agencies and retailers—especially small and limited-resource stores—accept online SNAP payments, funded with $75 million. It appropriates $25 million for the redemption portal contract and requires USDA to publish a searchable online list of retailers accepting SNAP benefits.
The bill primarily affects SNAP recipients, who would gain broader access to online and mobile grocery purchasing; retailers, including small businesses and farmers who currently lack resources to build their own online payment systems; and USDA, which would administer the new programs and contracts.
The bill was introduced in the House on February 26, 2021, by Rep. Robin Kelly and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 117th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021
This bill revises the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) to make the online redemption of benefits, including the acceptance of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards, more widely available by requiring the implementation of online SNAP purchasing in every state and providing funding for an online redemption portal and a technical assistance center.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must award on a competitive basis one or more contracts to develop an EBT Online Redemption Portal to (1) allow program participants to use online or mobile electronic benefits transactions to purchase program foods from, and make online payments to, authorized program retailers under SNAP; and (2) facilitate food purchase delivery for program participants using such electronic benefits transactions.
The Food and Nutrition Service of USDA must award competitive grants or enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit entities to establish a SNAP Online Purchasing Technical Assistance Center to provide state agencies, authorized program retailers, and program participants information on and technical assistance with accepting SNAP benefits through online transactions and use of the portal. In providing technical assistance, the center must give priority to entities that are small and limited-resource retailers.
The bill provides funding for both the online redemption portal and the technical assistance center.
USDA must maintain on its website a publicly available listing, organized and searchable by region, locality, and state, of all approved retail food stores accepting benefits from recipients of SNAP, including through online transactions.
Timeline
8 Apr 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 1413 do?
- H.R. 1413, the Expanding SNAP Options Act of 2021, would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to broaden how Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits can be redeemed online. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to award one or more competitive contracts to develop an "EBT Online Redemption Portal" that would let SNAP participants use EBT cards for online or mobile purchases and delivery from authorized retailers, with specific security, accessibility, and disaster-recovery requirements, a beta version within 120 days of contract award, full deployment within 180 days after that, and a status report to Congress. It also removes the current limit on which states can offer online SNAP purchasing, requiring nationwide availability, and creates a "SNAP Online Purchasing Technical Assistance Center" to help state agencies and retailers—especially small and limited-resource stores—accept online SNAP payments, funded with $75 million. It appropriates $25 million for the redemption portal contract and requires USDA to publish a searchable online list of retailers accepting SNAP benefits. The bill primarily affects SNAP recipients, who would gain broader access to online and mobile grocery purchasing; retailers, including small businesses and farmers who currently lack resources to build their own online payment systems; and USDA, which would administer the new programs and contracts. The bill was introduced in the House on February 26, 2021, by Rep. Robin Kelly and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. It did not receive a vote and did not become law in the 117th Congress.
- Has H.R. 1413 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 1413. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 1413?
- H.R. 1413 was sponsored by Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 1413?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations. (8 Apr 2021).
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