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Senate File 849: Committee hears testimony on $1 million SNAP outreach funding, amendment adopted and bill laid over
Summary
Senate File 849 would appropriate $1 million this biennium for SNAP outreach statewide to prevent a funding cliff; the committee adopted an author's A1 amendment and laid the bill over for possible inclusion.
Senate File 849, offered to the Minnesota Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Feb. 19, would appropriate $1,000,000 this biennium (split in the bill as two line items) to continue the state's SNAP outreach program and avoid an anticipated funding ‘‘cliff’’ in fiscal 2026–27.
Sponsor and procedural: Senator Mae Quaid presented the bill and an A1 author's amendment that the committee adopted by voice vote. The bill was then laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus package.
Nut graf: Testimony from food-bank and food-shelf providers, and from the Minnesota Grocers Association, centered on the outreach program's role in helping eligible Minnesotans enroll in SNAP, bringing federal dollars into local communities, and reducing immediate demand for emergency food.
Supporters described how SNAP outreach grantees help people complete the combined 10-page application, overcome language and digital barriers, and reduce stigma associated with benefits. Mesa Seibert, neighbor services outreach manager at Second Harvest Heartland, said her team conducted more than 200 outreach events in 2024, produced more than 17,000 inquiries for food support and assisted more than 8,500 Minnesotans with SNAP last year, a 20% increase over the prior year. “SNAP dollars are largely spent at local grocery stores, markets, and small businesses,” Seibert told the committee.
Janet Gratia, president and CEO of Neighborhood House in St. Paul, said her organization distributed 47% more food year over year and employs a SNAP outreach specialist to help overcome language and digital barriers. Steve Barthel of the Minnesota Grocers Association urged passage, telling members that SNAP spending circulates locally: in 2024 Minnesota SNAP recipients spent about $857 million at eligible retailers.
Committee members asked implementation questions. Department staff explained the SNAP outreach program provides a 50% federal reimbursement for eligible outreach activities and that additional state investments can be matched with federal funds. Lawmakers also discussed that the program is administered through the Department of Children, Youth and Families, which now houses economic and food assistance programs.
Ending: The committee adopted the author's A1 amendment and laid SF 849 over for possible inclusion; no roll-call vote was recorded in committee.
Votes at a glance: A1 amendment — moved by Senator Mann; outcome: adopted (voice). Final disposition in committee: laid over for possible inclusion.
