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Committee backs emergency SNAP reimbursement to restore DHS reserve
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Summary
The committee voted to pass HB2310 HD1 to reimburse the Department of Human Services for SNAP benefits paid from TANF reserves during a federal shutdown, after testimony that the payments were a lifeline and that federal funds later restored regular benefits.
The House Committee on Human Services voted to advance HB2310 HD1, which would make an emergency appropriation to reimburse the Department of Human Services for SNAP benefits temporarily paid from TANF reserves during a federal funding interruption.
Catholic Charities’ Betty Lou Larsen thanked the state and DHS for stepping in during the federal shutdown and described the urgent need for food assistance; Michelle Bartel of Aloha United Way said calls to the statewide 211 helpline spiked from roughly 150 daily to over 1,000 on Feb. 11 during the outage. DHS deputy director Joseph Campos clarified the flow of funds: “So, yes, once the federal government reopened, their funding that they would have normally received for November was put on their accounts.”
Witnesses framed the measure as necessary to replenish DHS capacity for future emergencies. Committee members recommended passing the bill while deferring the specific appropriation amounts to the committee report so staff can reconcile federal restrictions; the committee adopted the recommendation to pass with amendments.
