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Bill > LD2122
ME LD2122
ME LD2122An Act to Prevent Negative Impacts from Federal Funding Changes to and Fund Eligibility Determinations and Outreach for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
summary
Introduced
01/07/2026
01/07/2026
In Committee
01/07/2026
01/07/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to operate an electronic system to reduce the error rate for eligibility determinations for food allotments under the statewide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bill authorizes the department to award grants to community-based organizations to provide matching funds for federal funding for approved SNAP outreach activities and to hire SNAP outreach community coordinators. The grant program is established by the department. The bill provides ongoing funding of $750,000 per fiscal year for the grant program. The bill directs the department to establish and maintain a contingency fund to provide SNAP benefits to SNAP benefit recipients in the event the Federal Government fails to provide SNAP benefit funding to the State. The balance in the fund may not exceed $87,000,000. The bill appropriates $87,000,000 in fiscal year 2025-26 to the fund. The bill provides ongoing funding of $96,400 per fiscal year for the cost of contracting for a position to support and manage SNAP outreach activities and assist with work to reduce the SNAP payment error rate.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to implement an electronic system to reduce errors in determining eligibility for food assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program providing food aid to low-income individuals and families. This is crucial because a new federal funding structure, starting in October 2027, may require the state to pay a larger share of program costs if eligibility error rates exceed certain levels. The bill also establishes a grant program for community-based organizations to receive matching funds for SNAP outreach activities and to hire coordinators who can improve communication with SNAP recipients, with $750,000 annually dedicated to this program. Additionally, it creates a contingency fund, capped at $87,000,000, to ensure SNAP benefits can be provided to recipients if the federal government fails to provide necessary funding, with an initial appropriation of $87,000,000 for fiscal year 2025-26. Finally, the bill allocates $96,400 annually to contract for a position to manage SNAP outreach and assist in reducing the program's payment error rate.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (8)
Ryan Fecteau (D)*,
Mana Abdi (D),
Flavia DeBrito (D),
Sharon Frost (I),
Craig Hickman (D),
Anne-Marie Mastraccio (D),
Julia McCabe (D),
Bill Pluecker (I),
Last Action
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES in concurrence (on 01/07/2026)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=2122&snum=132 |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1437&item=1&snum=132 |
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