A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to improve the cost of living adjustment exclusion from income under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.
Summary
SB3603, titled the “COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2026,” would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to change how certain income exclusions are treated for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill specifically updates the timing of one existing exclusion from July 1 to January 1 and adds supplementary payments of the type described in section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act to the list of income exclusions used in SNAP eligibility and benefit calculations.
In practical terms, the measure is aimed at preventing certain cost-of-living adjustment increases and related supplementary payments from counting as income for SNAP purposes, which could help some recipients avoid reductions in benefits or loss of eligibility when their federal benefits rise. The bill would take effect on October 1, 2027, giving states and administering agencies time to adjust program rules and systems.
Impact
The bill would amend 7 U.S.C. 2014(d), the income-counting provisions of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, by revising an existing exclusion date and adding a new category of excluded income. Its effect would be to narrow the extent to which COLA-related increases and certain Social Security Act supplementary payments are counted against SNAP households, potentially increasing or preserving benefits for affected participants and changing state SNAP administration practices.
Sentiment
The available context shows the bill was introduced by a group of Democratic senators, including sponsors and cosponsors generally associated with expanding or protecting social safety net benefits. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided material, so there is no direct evidence of opposition or support beyond the bill’s sponsorship and referral status. Overall, the bill appears to have a pro-beneficiary, technical-benefits-protection orientation.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether COLA increases and certain supplementary payments should be excluded from SNAP income calculations. Supporters are likely to view the change as preventing inflation-driven benefit erosion and avoiding unintended penalties for low-income households, while potential critics could argue that excluding more income may increase program costs or expand eligibility beyond current limits. No specific objections or amendments are recorded in the provided history.
An Act Concerning Maximizing Use Of Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Funds And The Restaurant Meals Program For The Nutritional Needs Of Elderly Persons And Others.
A bill for an act relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance program; the medical assistance program; the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; and other public assistance programs under the purview of the department of health and human services. (Formerly HSB 696.)
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program integrity measures and verification.