Advocates ask Vermont House committee to expand SNAP options and boost funding for farmer incentives and emergency food reserves

Hunger Free Vermont and food-system partners told the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee on Feb. 6 that lawmakers should adopt the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program for select beneficiaries and boost state funding for several food-security programs.

Ivy Enoch, SNAP policy and training lead at Hunger Free Vermont, asked legislators to "please pass legislation to instruct the state to opt into the SNAP restaurant meals program and appropriate $75,000 to cover restaurant startup costs and $100,000 for a staff position within DCF to administer the program." She also requested $500,000 in base funding to sustain NOFA Vermont’s Crop Cash Plus and FarmShare programs, $5,000,000 in base and one-time funding in the FY26 budget for the Vermont Food Bank’s disaster preparedness and distribution work, and an additional $2,000,000 in base general funding for home-delivered meals through the Area Agencies on Aging, with the option to draw down matching Global Commitment funds.

The requests are aimed at improving access and stabilizing supply. "3…