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Committee hears bill to add food-insecurity question to student aid form, while state agrees to administrative SNAP fixes
Summary
Legislators and higher-education officials discussed House Bill 1090, which would add an optional food‑insecurity question to Maryland's student financial‑aid application and streamline SNAP eligibility for qualifying students; the Department of Human Services agreed to implement several policy changes through guidance.
Delegate Jared Solomon told the House Appropriations Committee that HB 1090 — the SNAP for Students Act — aims to reduce food insecurity on college campuses by making it easier for eligible students to obtain SNAP benefits and by prompting colleges to reach out to students who self-identify as food insecure.
Solomon said the administration agreed to handle many proposed changes by updating the state's SNAP manual and guidance, which will eliminate several provisions that generated a fiscal note. The remaining statutory change in HB 1090 would add an optional question to the Maryland financial-aid application (MCAPS) asking whether a student experienced difficulty affording food in the previous six months. Sponsors said the question would allow campuses to conduct targeted outreach and link students to on‑campus or community resources.
Student advocates and colleges urged passage. Nicole Holt, an undergraduate public‑health student at UMBC who testified virtually, said: “This nutrition assistance has helped me dedicate myself to my education without the distraction of food insecurity.” Melissa Bender and other DHS staff agreed to update guidance to allow students who qualify for Federal Work-Study to be treated as SNAP-eligible per federal rules even if their work study has not yet started.
Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) officials endorsed the bill and said the measure would help students who are independent, older, or have families of their own. Maryland Hunger Solutions said administrative hurdles and complex student‑eligibility rules inhibit access for students. Witnesses estimated food insecurity rates on some campuses at 20–27 percent and urged the committee to approve the measure to improve retention and student success.
Ending: The committee heard broad support from student groups, advocates and higher-education agencies; sponsors and DHS said many implementation steps can be handled administratively through updated guidance, and the committee will consider the sponsor amendment removing duplicative statutory language.
