Minnesota hearing: HR 1 changes and federal cuts threaten SNAP, food banks and local food systems

A Minnesota Senate subcommittee convened Oct. 1 to review how federal policy and budget changes are already shaping food access in the state, and multiple witnesses told lawmakers that the combination of HR 1 provisions and reduced USDA support will increase hunger, shift costs to local governments and strain food shelves, food banks and farmers.

Second Harvest Heartland researchers told the committee that a new, statewide food-security scale shows a broader role for the emergency food network than is captured by typical measures. Sophie Wallerstedt, public affairs manager for Second Harvest Heartland, said the group surveyed roughly 3,000 households (15% response rate) and classified households into four “stops” on a food-security continuum. She said the survey found about 2% of households had not had enough food and did not access help; 5% lacked enough food but did access assistance; 13% had enough food only because they relied regularly on SNAP, food shelves or other supports; and about 81% were fully food secure without assistance. “One in five Minnesota households are food insecure — do not have enough food without the help of the network,” Wallerstedt said.

Wallerstedt and other testifiers warned that several HR 1 provisions will make that insecurity worse. Wallerstedt summarized the major program changes the committee discussed: the federal administrative reimbursement for counties will shift from a roughly 50/50 split to 25% federal / 75% state-and-county; states will begin paying a portion of SNAP benefit costs tied to a payment-error rate beginning Oct. 1, 2027; expanded work requirements and other eligibility changes will require thousands of adults to report work hours; and updates to how the Thrifty Food Plan is calculated will slow benefit growth as grocery prices rise. “Starting 10/01/2027 states will be required to pay a portion of benefits,” Wallerstedt said. Testifiers provided preliminary cost estimates: an $86 million to $127 million annual increase in state benefit costs (estimate range provided by witnesses), about $39 million in additional staff/administrative costs statewide, and 30,000–40,000 additional Minnesota adults who may be newly subject to work-reporting rules. Presenters also noted the thrifty food plan changes affect roughly 450,000 SNAP recipients in Minnesota.

Food banks, food shelves and local…