Bill > B26-0367

This bill, the Public Benefits Security Amendment Act of 2025, mandates that the Department of Human Services (DHS) equip all Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which are used to access public assistance electronically, with EMV technology, a type of chip that creates a unique code for each transaction to prevent theft, by October 1, 2027, and will seek federal reimbursement for these upgrades. Furthermore, it establishes a process for recipients to report and be reimbursed for stolen public benefits, allowing DHS to restore up to two months of lost benefits if theft occurred through fraudulent means such as phishing (deceptively obtaining sensitive information), skimming (unlawfully capturing EBT card data), or cloning (creating a duplicate card using stolen data), provided the theft is reported within 45 days of discovery and six months of the incident, with the department required to investigate and notify the recipient of their decision and rights to a fair hearing. Additionally, the bill extends the operation of the Flexible Rent Subsidy Pilot Program by one year, through Fiscal Year 2027.

Health and Social Services

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0367