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Panel advances bill to protect veterans from recent CalFresh cuts and link applicants to county advocates
Summary
SB 1201 would direct the state to seek federal waivers to exempt veterans from new time limits in SNAP changes and require counties to refer veteran applicants to county veterans service officers; sponsors said the bill helps veterans facing work‑reporting requirements and service gaps.
The author described SB 1201, the "Hungry No Hungrier's Heroes Act," to request federal waivers to protect veterans from recent changes to SNAP and CalFresh that impose time limits and work‑reporting requirements. Supporters said the federal provisions (HR 1) introduced new time limits that can cause veterans to lose benefits after three months unless they meet 20 hours per week of work reporting.
Jim Zenner, legislative chair of the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, testified that veterans face unique barriers — including transitions to civilian work, homelessness, and disability determinations — and that SB 1201 would help by (1) seeking waivers, (2) connecting applicants to county veterans service officers, and (3) ensuring job-search expenses are not counted against eligibility. The California Association of Food Banks and other organizations supported the bill.
Committee members expressed broad support and the bill was passed to the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee (final recorded vote 7–0).
