HB 2202 and SB 1031 would lead to cost savings, workload reduction and decreased error rates.

Dallas, Texas-- The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) joins a coalition of more than 80 organizations in the Texas Food Policy Roundtable in urging state lawmakers to pass HB 2202 / SB 1031. These companion bills would streamline six-month SNAP eligibility checks and decrease error rates by using technology and verified data sources to save the state time and money.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) currently faces a significant backlog of SNAP and Medicaid applications. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has placed HHSC under a Corrective Action Plan, but the agency has struggled for years to meet federal timeliness standards.

“Thousands of Texans eligible for SNAP are going without critical food assistance while they wait for applications to be processed, which places undue strain on Texas food banks,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. “Streamlining the six-month eligibility check using technology and verified data sources offers a systemic solution to reduce workload and improve timeliness for HHSC. This process will not only reduce administrative burden and save costs but also decrease error rates, ensuring timely food assistance to vulnerable Texans.”

HHSC requires SNAP recipients to provide updated information about their household circumstances every six months to ensure continued eligibility. Under the current system, HHSC employees must manually review, verify and process each six-month eligibility check for SNAP beneficiaries. By utilizing technology and verified data sources to process these checks, the state could save millions a year in reduced administrative costs. 

This process, known as “periodic reporting,” will also minimize the risk of human error in data handling and eligibility determination. Fewer errors result in fewer costly corrections and adjustments. These updated eligibility checks would still undergo rigid, manual Quality Control measures to ensure the automations are working as intended. Texas is currently one of only five states that have not adopted this streamlined process.

“Texas is behind the curve,” Cole said. “Forty-five states have already implemented this automated process and seen significant cost savings. It’s time the state’s eligibility process reflects our technological progress.”

Georgia recently implemented periodic reporting, resulting in a 25% reduction in workload for its eligibility staff. Applied to Texas’s eligibility workforce, this change would save over $33 million in state funds per year.

"Implementing streamlined six-month periodic reporting will save both time and resources for our state while ensuring that our neighbors in need receive essential food assistance without unnecessary delays," said Trisha Cunningham, President & CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. "We strongly encourage lawmakers to support HB 2202 and SB 1031, allowing HHSC to move forward with this effective solution."

Take action today by submitting a digital form to urge your representatives to streamline SNAP eligibility through this link.

About Feeding Texas 

Feeding Texas is a network of 20 food banks and leads a unified effort for a hunger-free Texas. Learn more and find your local food bank at feedingtexas.org.

 About the North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a leading nonprofit organization that fights hunger and provides children, seniors and families in North Texas access to nutritious food. For over 40 years, we have been at the forefront of hunger relief, committed to ensuring that no one in our community lacks access to healthy food. Our extensive network of 500 food pantries and organizations, volunteers, and donors enables us to deliver more than 100 million nutritious meals annually to those in need.

Beyond just addressing hunger, we focus on nourishing lives by offering nutrition education, investing in our network partners, innovating solutions to eliminate hunger and advocating for policies that tackle the root causes of food insecurity.

Our dedication to excellence is reflected in our 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, highlighting our strong governance, integrity, and financial stability. As a proud member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief network, we are committed to ensuring everyone in North Texas has the nourishment needed to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. For more information, visit www.ntfb.org or connect with us on social media @NorthTexasFoodBank.