H.R. 8246

119 HR 8246 IH: Overcoming Higher Education Hunger Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-09
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  I
  119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
  H. R. 8246
  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  April 9, 2026
  Ms. Williams of Georgia  (for herself,
  Mrs. Hayes ,  Ms. Chu ,  Mr.
  Cohen ,  Mr. Carter of
  Louisiana ,  Ms. Crockett ,
  Mr. García of Illinois ,  Mr. Jackson of Illinois ,  Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania ,  Ms. Norton ,  Ms.
  Salinas ,  Mr. Thanedar ,
  Mrs. Beatty ,  Ms. Velázquez ,  Mr.
  Carbajal , and  Ms. Tlaib )
  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Agriculture
  A BILL
To allow certain students, including those who have a student
  aid index equal to or less than zero, to qualify for supplemental nutrition assistance
  program benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Overcoming Higher Education Hunger Through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Act of 2026   or the   OHH SNAP Act of 2026  .
2.
SNAP treatment of educational loans
Section 5(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2014(k) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking paragraph (3); and
(2)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3).
3.
Eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance
  program
Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 ( 7 U.S.C. 2015 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (e)—
(A)
in paragraph (7), by striking  or  at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (8), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(9)
 has a student aid index that is equal to or less than $0, as determined by the procedures established in part F of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087kk–1087vv ); or
(10)
is determined to be  independent  based on one of the criteria specified in subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (G), and (H) of section 480(d)(1) of the Higher Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv ).
  ; and
(2)
in subsection (o)(2)(A), by striking  work  and inserting  attending an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 )) or work, in the aggregate, .
4.
Effective date; application of amendments
(a)
 Effective date
Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b)
Application of amendments
The amendments made by this Act shall not apply with respect to certification periods that begin before the effective date of this Act.