H.R. 8256 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Apr 14, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands nutrition aid for seniors and disabled adults
This bill makes it easier for older adults and people with disabilities to get food assistance. It increases how long their benefits can be certified (from 24 to 36 months for some programs), gives them more money for food, and creates a simpler application process. The bill also sets up ways for food stores and community organizations to deliver food to people who qualify.
How it affects you
If you're a senior or an adult with disabilities and have a low income, these changes could mean easier access to food benefits, less paperwork to renew them, and more money to spend on groceries. Some eligible people may also be able to get food delivered to their homes through partnerships between stores and local organizations.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Apr 14, 2026)
Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026
This bill expands and modifies nutrition programs for older adults and adults with disabilities, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
Under the bill, a household's eligibility for SNAP benefits may be certified for 36 months if all adult household members are elderly or disabled, an increase from 24 months. The bill also expands the SNAP medical expense deduction and increases the minimum allotment for households with one and two persons.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must establish an elderly simplified application program that allows a state to implement a streamlined SNAP application and certification process for households where all adult household members are elderly or disabled and have no earned income.
The bill also directs USDA to authorize public-private partnerships between USDA, retail food stores participating in SNAP, and community-based organizations to provide free or low-cost food delivery under SNAP, including through the use of private funds.
Further, the bill reauthorizes CSFP, provides additional funding for the program, and expands eligibility to include low-income adults with disabilities. CSFP benefits may also be certified for 36 months. Currently, benefits may be certified for not less than one year, but not more than three years.
The bill also expands eligibility for the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program to include adults with disabilities, provide a 36-month certification period, and include minimum and maximum benefit amounts.
Under the bill, USDA must also establish various related grant programs.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH. R. 8256
A BILL
Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) · Introduced Apr 14, 2026 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 14, 2026: “Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.”
Sections
Sections · 8
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Improving efficacy of the supplemental nutrition assistance programNo change
- Sec. 3Streamlining nutrition access for older adults and adults with disabilitiesNo change
- Sec. 4Enrollment and outreach pilot program for older adults, kinship families, and adults with disabilitiesNo change
- Sec. 5Food delivery under supplemental nutrition assistance programNo change
- Sec. 6Commodity supplemental food programNo change
- Sec. 7Seniors farmers' market nutrition programNo change
- Sec. 8Infrastructure funding for farmers' markets; local procurement pilot programNo change