The Impact Of SNAP Cuts In Texas

Thanks to a combination of factors including inflation and the War in Iran, food insecurity continues to impact more Texans. Even more alarmingly, this heightened food insecurity has emerged during a time of profound changes to SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which 350,000 Texans lost access to over the past year.

A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities outlines the state by state decreases to SNAP rolls thanks to the sweeping bill passed last year H.R. 1 (which the White House refers to as “The Big Beautiful Bill”). When it was enacted, H.R. 1 produced major cuts to SNAP federal funding, moving a lot of the costs to states. It also established stricter work requirements and terminated access to those with a lawful immigration status.

According to the CBPP, participation in SNAP decreased throughout the country by more than 3.5 million, with certain states like Arizona experiencing a nearly 40 percent decrease in participation. In Texas, the decrease of SNAP participants was just over 10 percent since before H.R. 1. From February 2025 to February 2026, the CBPP notes that 353,623 Texans lost access to SNAP.

For an organization like No Kid Hungry Texas, the statewide anti-hunger organization run by the nonprofit Share Our Strength, these SNAP losses should be ringing alarm bells for lawmakers throughout the state. Texas Signal spoke with Stacie Sanchez Hare, Director of No Kid Hungry Texas, for further insights into these SNAP cuts, and what it means for overall food insecurity in the lone star state.

With HR 1, Congress has forced some of the biggest cuts to SNAP in the program’s history. The Congressional Budget Office projects about $187 billion in cuts over the next decade. For Sanchez Hare, it’s the biggest “structural change” she’s seen her lifetime. “It’s unheard of that a state would have to split the administrative cost with the federal government.”

Texas will also be paying over $700 million to the federal government for SNAP errors, even though the state falls around the national average with a 9 percent rate. All states with error rates over 6 percent will incur these steeper penalties.

Another major SNAP change No Kid Hungry Texas is tracking are those stricter work requirements and proof of employment. While Sanchez Hare understands the impulse to want to support those measures, in reality that often means an added burden for a parent, who might be struggling with multiple jobs. With so many Texans also working in the gig economy, tracking down the right documents can lead to a significant administrative worry. 

Sanchez Hare often has to inform people about who is actually using SNAP in a state like Texas. “People are on SNAP [most often] for nine to twelve months, and it’s most often used by working families [when] somebody loses a job and there’s a crisis.”

The state of Texas also recently began restricting items that can be purchased with SNAP. In Texas, that means sweetened drinks (including soda) or candy are prohibited with SNAP. Sanchez Hare points out that once again a policy that might appear good on paper, could have detrimental side effects.

Many grocery stores have had to display these restrictions regarding SNAP, which can create a further stigma about paying for items with the benefit. Additionally, a product like a candy bar could be used in an emergency to treat low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Changes to SNAP are already impacting Texas, which has the second highest rate of food insecurity in the nation. Recently, 29 districts in the North East Independent School District began informing families that they may no longer quality for free or reduced meals. Additionally, Northside ISD (the biggest school district in San Antonio) announced the price of student meals would be increasing for the first time in years.

No Kid Hungry Texas is working overtime in Washington D.C., with other hunger organizations, to try and reverse these SNAP cuts through the FARM bill, which is authorized by the U.S. Congress every five years. However, if that doesn’t work these cuts could be locked in until 2030. “The stakes are high,” says Sanchez Hare.

Closer to home, No Kid Hungry Texas is already looking ahead to next January when the Texas legislative session convenes. One of the chief priorities for the organization is getting Summer EBT back into the state budget.

The summer food program meant for low-income Texas children was the only budget line-item veto from Governor Abbott last year. It was estimated that about 3.75 million children in Texas would have benefited.