food insufficiency

The federal law requires states to attain error rates below 6% or face paying a percentage of the state’s SNAP benefits, depending on the error rate level.

Rising grocery and fuel prices, immigration enforcement fears and the scaling back of SNAP benefits are among the factors advocates are concerned are contributing to the trend.

The One Big Beautiful Bill requires states to pay for some food assistance based on error rates. Advocacy groups want the penalties delayed to avoid SNAP service cuts.

Starting April 1, Texans will no longer be allowed to use food stamps to buy sweetened beverages and candy.

“These are not just abstract numbers. These are Kansas kids losing access to food,” said Haley Kottler, senior campaign director at Kansas Appleseed.

Texas has a 91% Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, accuracy rate — which could mean the state will be responsible for more than $700 million in benefits costs. If Texas has to cover part of the benefits costs, it would be the first time since the program started in the 1960s.

Starting April 1, Texans won't be able to use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to purchase "candy or sweetened drinks." Texas retailers and nonprofits have spent month preparing for the new restrictions — but some recipients may not know until they're checking out at the store.

Starting April 1, Texans will no longer be allowed to use food stamps to buy sweetened beverages and candy.

Gov. Laura Kelly originally refused to hand over the data, leading the federal government to threaten withholding SNAP funds. The governor said she received additional privacy guarantees for how the data will be used.

The governor opposes the bill despite one of its pieces meeting a policy priority.