To enact section 5101.548 of the Revised Code to establish a program to refund SNAP recipients who have been victims of electronic theft or fraud, to name this act the No Hungry Families Act, and to make an appropriation.
Summary
HB174 would create a new state program within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to replace Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that were stolen through electronic benefit theft. The bill defines several forms of fraud, including card skimming, card cloning, phishing, and scam transactions, and directs the department to establish an application process for households that lost benefits on or after December 21, 2024. It also requires the department to send a new EBT card when replacement benefits are requested.
The bill limits replacement to regular SNAP benefits and disaster SNAP benefits, caps reimbursement at the lesser of the amount stolen or two months of the household’s monthly allotment, and restricts households to two replacements per fiscal year. It sets filing deadlines, requires county departments to review claims within 30 days, and allows administrative hearings for denials or disputed amounts. The bill also includes a $17 million General Revenue Fund appropriation for fiscal year 2026 to pay for replacement benefits, with authority to reappropriate unused funds into fiscal year 2027.
Impact
If enacted, HB174 would add section 5101.548 to the Revised Code and create a new statutory framework for replacing stolen SNAP benefits in Ohio. It would impose new duties on the Department of Job and Family Services and county departments to process claims, evaluate evidence of electronic theft, issue replacement benefits, and adopt implementing rules. The bill would also appropriate state funds specifically for SNAP replacement payments, affecting the state budget and the administration of public assistance benefits for eligible households.
Sentiment
The bill appears generally supportive and remedial in nature, aimed at helping low-income households recover from benefit theft and reduce food insecurity. The title, policy design, and appropriation all indicate a strong consumer-protection and anti-fraud purpose. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no recorded opposition or formal vote sentiment to assess from the available materials.
Contention
The main points of contention built into the bill are likely to be administrative eligibility standards and fiscal limits rather than the overall goal of helping victims. The bill excludes theft that occurred before December 21, 2024, limits reimbursement to two months of benefits and two claims per fiscal year, and allows denial if the county department cannot verify at least two fraud indicators or if the household shared its card and PIN with another person. Those restrictions suggest a balance between fraud prevention and benefit restoration, and they may be the primary areas where applicants, administrators, or budget-conscious lawmakers could disagree.