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University of Illinois Extension warns SNAP‑Ed funding will end in Illinois after House Bill 1 changes
Summary
Katie Buckley, McLean County director for University of Illinois Extension, told the board that sweeping changes from House Bill 1 will eliminate SNAP‑Ed in Illinois and that local programs that previously received about $350,000 annually face funding loss; Extension is seeking alternative funding to continue services.
Katie Buckley, county director for the University of Illinois Extension serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford counties, told the McLean County Board that state changes tied to House Bill 1 will effectively end SNAP‑Ed programs in Illinois and that the local Extension office is pursuing alternatives to maintain services.
“SNAP Ed programs will no longer exist in Illinois,” Buckley said, adding that Illinois currently receives about $19 million annually for SNAP‑Ed and that “Livingston and McLean Counties receive approximately $350,000 each year.” Buckley described SNAP‑Ed as a federally funded nutrition‑education and obesity‑prevention program serving low‑income populations and outlined local impacts in 2024: eight K‑12 school partnerships, three early‑childhood partnerships, five emergency‑food site collaborations, 13 community‑organization partnerships, 293 nutrition‑education classes and 1,178 participants reached.
Buckley said the Extension office is “actively exploring alternative funding models to continue delivering these essential services” and provided contact information for follow‑up. She also invited the board and public to the McLean County 4‑H show and fair, noting drop‑off and judging dates in late July and livestock shows through the week.
Why it matters: SNAP‑Ed supports nutrition education and access programs that local schools and community partners use to reach low‑income residents. Buckley’s figures indicate the loss of dedicated SNAP‑Ed funds would reduce local programming that supports food security, chronic‑disease prevention and school‑based nutrition education.
Speakers quoted in this article are from the University of Illinois Extension presentation; all numerical and program details come from Buckley’s report to the board.
