WV Senate passes bill that would expand work, training requirements for SNAP

The West Virginia Senate has approved a bill that would expand the work and training requirements for recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called food stamps. 

Senators approved Senate Bill 249 with no discussion and a vote of 32 to 2. 

With some exceptions, able-bodied people without dependents ages 18 to 54 are required to work or train in order to receive SNAP benefits. The bill would expand the age to 59 by requiring the Department of Human Services to assign people in that age range to a mandatory work or training program. 

Under the bill, exemptions include caring for a child under age 6 or an incapacitated adult, going to school at least part time, being employed at least 30 hours a week and participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program, among other things. 

The bill would allow the state Department of Human Services to exempt up to 20% of individuals from the SNAP Employment and Training program work based on challenges that the person would experience complying with the requirements. 

According to a fiscal note from the Department of Human Services, the agency estimates the cost of implementing the legislation would be $2.7 million in state funding for fiscal year 2026 and about $1.7 million per year in state funding when the bill is fully implemented. Those costs include hiring one new family support supervisor in each county office to oversee the program. The department warns that the implementation of a program based on this bill might lead to a higher error rate for SNAP, which could lead to the state having to pay back federal funding.

“Other states implementing mandatory E&T programs have seen drastic increases in their SNAP error rates,” the department wrote. “Error rates above the national average for two consecutive years place a state at risk of federal financial sanctions requiring potential repayment of federal funding. While West Virginia’s error rates are currently compliant, the administrative complexity of implementing new eligibility criteria under a mandatory program does expose the state to significant risk of repayment.” 

Rhonda Rogombe, health and safety new policy analyst for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, called the bill harmful. 

“We know from lots of studies, including some of our own, that mandating work reporting requirements disconnects people from access to food but does not connect them to work,” she said Wednesday. “So we have lots of concerns about this bill.” 

The bill would also impact retailers that rely on SNAP and put pressure on the state’s food banks as they fill in the gaps, she said. 

Jeremiah Samples, the former deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources and now a lobbyist for the right-leaning organization Opportunity Solutions Project, previously testified in support of the bill, saying it gives people both the expectation and resources to work. 

The legislation has been opposed by representatives of the state’s charitable food network. Caitlin Cook, director of advocacy and public policy for Mountaineer Food Bank, told West Virginia Watch previously that in other states, mandatory education and training programs have increased food insecurity. 

The Senate passed the legislation during the 2024 legislative session, but the House did not adopt it.

The bill will next go to the House of Delegates for consideration.