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SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act of 2026
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require States to provide recipient-level data to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request.
Summary
This bill amends federal law to require states to provide detailed recipient data and case file information to the U.S. Department of Agriculture when requested, as a condition of their participation in the SNAP program. States would have 30 days to provide the requested data in whatever format and frequency the USDA specifies, or face potential suspension of federal funds. The bill allows the USDA to disclose the data to federal and state law enforcement agencies for program enforcement and investigation purposes, while maintaining standard privacy protections under the Privacy Act. The bill does not limit the USDA's existing authority to access state SNAP data for oversight and audit purposes.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL)
2 cosponsors
- Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (R-IA)
- Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL)
Actions (2)
- Feb 12, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. · senate
- Feb 12, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 12, 2026
Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Ms. Ernst, and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require States to provide recipient-level data to the Secretary of Agriculture upon request.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. STATE REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE SNAP RECIPIENT DATA TO THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(y) Provision of Recipient Data to the Secretary.—
“(1) In general.—As a condition of participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, each State agency shall, on request of the Secretary, provide to the Secretary recipient-level data, case file information, or any other program data necessary for the administration, oversight, integrity, or enforcement of the program.
“(2) Process.—Data requested under paragraph (1) shall be transmitted in such form, manner, frequency, and within such time frame, as the Secretary may require, including through secure electronic data transfer systems designated by the Secretary.
“(3) Timing.—A State agency shall provide data requested under paragraph (1) not later than 30 days after the date of the request, unless the Secretary establishes a shorter timeline for urgent program integrity, audit, or investigative purposes.
“(4) Noncompliance.—The Secretary may withhold or suspend funds to a State under section 16 if a State fails to comply with a request for data under this subsection.
“(5) Data safeguards.—
“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall ensure that all data received under this subsection is subject to applicable Federal laws and safeguards governing the privacy and security of program records, including section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ‘Privacy Act of 1974’).
“(B) Allowed disclosure.—Data received under this subsection may be disclosed by the Secretary to any Federal or State law enforcement and investigative agency for purposes of administering or enforcing this Act, regulations issued under this Act, or any other Federal or State law.
“(6) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection limits any existing authority of the Secretary to access State data or records for program oversight, enforcement, audit, or evaluation purposes.”. <all>
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