Bill Text - SB603 (2026)

Relative to the funding of the SNAP program by the department of health and human services.


Revision: Jan. 20, 2026, 11:26 a.m.

SB 603-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2254

05/08

 

SENATE BILL 603-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the funding of the SNAP program by the department of health and human services.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Sen. Avard, Dist 12

 

COMMITTEE: Finance

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill directs the department of health and human services to transfer funds as necessary to compensate for any reduction in federal funds received by the state for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2254

05/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT relative to the funding of the SNAP program by the department of health and human services.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Department of Health and Human Services; SNAP Funding; Transfer Among Accounting Units.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for the biennium ending June 30, 2027, the department of health and human services shall transfer funds within and among accounting units as necessary to address any budget reduction for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incurred by the state as a result of a reduction in federal funding.  Any transfer of $100,000 or more shall require prior approval of the fiscal committee of the general court and the governor and council.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.

 

LBA

26-2254

Revised 1/20/26

 

SB 603-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to the funding of the SNAP program by the department of health and human services.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:   This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund(s)

None

Expenditures*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill                *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to transfer funds as needed to address any budget reduction for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) resulting from a decrease in federal funding.  The bill is effective for the FY26/27 biennium only, and requires any transfer in excess of $100,000 to receive prior approval from the Fiscal Committee.  The Department notes that beginning October 1, 2026, the state will need to cover an additional 25 percent of SNAP administrative costs due to a decrease in the federal share. The Department expects that this change will result in an additional cost to the state of $4.6 million in FY27.  As the bill merely requires a transfer of funds and does not appropriate additional money, the net fiscal impact is zero.  It is unclear what impact the transfer will have on departmental operations, as the Department has not yet identified the areas from which it would transfer the funds.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services