United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 4 D · 3 R cosponsors

HR 7658 — Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 24, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 7 sponsors

    1 primary, 6 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 3 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

3 sections in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Supplemental nutrition assistance program · 7 U.S.C. ch. 51 3 sections
  • § 2016 Issuance and use of program benefits Amends

    7 U.S.C. § 2016 — at 2016(h), 2016(h)(7), and 2016(h)(8)(A)

    The law today

    (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (i), EBT cards shall be issued only to households which have been duly certified as eligible to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (b) Use Benefits issued to eligible households shall be used by them only to purchase food from retail food stores which have been approved for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program at prices prevailing in such stores: Provided, That nothing in this chapter shall be construed as authorizing the Secretary to specify the prices at which food may be sold by wholesale food concerns or retail food stores. (c) Design (1) In general EBT cards issued to eligible households shall be simple in design and shall include only such words or illustrations as are required to explain their purpose. (2) Prohibition The name of any public official shall not appear on any EBT card. (d) Delivery and control procedures The Secretary shall prescribe appropriate procedures for the delivery of benefits to benefit issuers and for the subsequent controls to be placed over such benefits by benefit issuers in order to ensure adequate accountability. (e) State issuance liability Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the State agency shall be strictly liable to the Secretary for any financial losses involved in the acceptance, storage and issuance of benefits, except that in the case of losses resulting from the issuance and replacement of authorizations for benefits which are sent through the mail, the State agency shall be liable to the Secretary to the extent prescribed in the regulations promulgated by the Secretary. (f) Alternative benefit delivery (1) In general If the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture, that it would improve the integrity of the supplemental nutrition assistance program, the Secretary shall require a State agency to issue or deliver benefits using alternative methods. (2) Imposition of costs (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall require participating retail food stores (including restaurants participating in a State option restaurant program intended to serve the elderly, disabled, and homeless) to pay 100 percent of the costs of acquiring, and arrange for the implementation of, electronic benefit transfer point-of-sale equipment and supplies, including related services. (B) Exemptions The Secretary may exempt from subparagraph (A)— (i) farmers’ markets and other direct-to-consumer markets, military commissaries, nonprofit food buying cooperatives, and establishments, organizations, programs, or group living arrangements described in paragraphs (5), (7), and (8) of section 2012(k) of this title; and (ii) establishments described in paragraphs (3), (4), and (9) of section 2012(k) of this title, other than restaurants participating in a State option restaurant program. (C) Interchange fees Nothing in this paragraph permits the charging of fees relating to the redemption of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, in accordance with subsection (h)(13). (3) Devaluation and termination of issuance of paper coupons (A) Coupon issuance Effective on the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, no State shall issue any coupon, stamp, certificate, or authorization card to a household that receives supplemental nutrition assistance under this chapter. (B) EBT cards Effective beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, only an EBT card issued under subsection (i) shall be eligible for exchange at any retail food store. (C) De-obligation of coupons Coupons not redeemed during the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 shall— (i) no longer be an obligation of the Federal Government; and (ii) not be redeemable. (4) Termination of manual v...

    53 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

  • § 2016a EBT benefit fraud prevention Amends

    7 U.S.C. § 2016a

    The law today

    (a) Guidance; rulemaking The Secretary shall— (1) issue guidance to State agencies, on an ongoing basis, as informed by the process outlined in paragraph (4), that describes security measures that— (A) are effective, as determined by the Secretary, in detecting and preventing theft of benefits, including through card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods; (B) are consistent with industry standards for detecting, identifying, and preventing debit and credit card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods; and (C) consider the feasibility of cost, availability, and implementation for States; (2) promulgate regulations through notice-and-comment rulemaking to require State agencies to take the security measures described in the guidance issued under paragraph (1); (3) not later than December 1, 2023, promulgate regulations (including an interim final rule) to require State agencies to implement procedures for the replacement of benefits consistent with subsection (b); (4) coordinate with the Administrator of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Attorney General of the United States, State agencies, retail food stores, and EBT contractors— (A) to determine— (i) how benefits are being stolen through card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods; (ii) how those stolen benefits are used; and (iii) the locations where card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods are taking place; (B) to establish measures, including equipment enhancements for retail food stores, to prevent benefits from being stolen through card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods; and (C) to establish standard reporting methods for States to collect and share data with the Secretary on the scope of benefits being stolen through card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods; and (5) not later than December 1, 2024, submit to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report that includes— (A) information on the frequency of theft of benefits and the location of those thefts, including benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods; (B) a description of the determinations made under paragraph (4)(A), the measures established under paragraph (4)(B), and methods established in paragraph (4)(C); (C) a description of the industry standards described in paragraph (1)(B); (D) a comparison of State plans related to reimbursement, prevention, and other relevant procedures approved in accordance with subsection (b)(1)(A); and (E) recommendations on how to consistently and proactively detect, track, report, and prevent theft of benefits, including benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods. (b) Replacement of benefits The Secretary shall use funds appropriated under section 2027 of this title to require States to replace benefits that are determined by the State agency to have been stolen through card skimming, card cloning, or similar fraudulent methods, subject to the conditions that— (1) the State agency shall submit to the Secretary not later than 60 days after December 29, 2022, for prior approval a plan for the replacement of stolen benefits that— (A) includes appropriate procedures, as determined by the Secretary, for the timely submission of claims to, timely validation of claims by, and replacement issuance by the State agency that includes— (i) a signed statement by the affected household on the benefit theft, consistent with the signature requirements and options provided by section 2020(e)(2)(C) of this title; (ii) criteria to determine if a submitted claim is valid; (iii) procedures for the documentation of replacement issuances, including the submitted claims and findings from the validation; (iv) th...

    7 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

  • § 2018 Approval of retail food stores and wholesale food concerns Amends

    7 U.S.C. § 2018 — at 2018(a)

    The law today

    (a) Authorization to accept and redeem benefits (1) Applications.— (A) In general.— Regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall provide for the submission of applications for approval by retail food stores and wholesale food concerns which desire to be authorized to accept and redeem benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program and for the approval of those applicants whose participation will effectuate the purposes of the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (B) Factors for consideration.— In determining the qualifications of applicants, there shall be considered among such other factors as may be appropriate, the following: (i) the nature and extent of the food business conducted by the applicant; (ii) the volume of benefit transactions which may reasonably be expected to be conducted by the applicant food store or wholesale food concern; (iii) whether the applicant is located in an area with significantly limited access to food; (iv) any information, if available, about the ability of the anticipated or existing electronic benefit transfer equipment and service provider of the applicant to provide sufficient information through the electronic benefit transfer system to minimize the risk of fraudulent transactions; and (v) the business integrity and reputation of the applicant. (C) Certificate.— Approval of an applicant shall be evidenced by the issuance to such applicant of a nontransferable certificate of approval. (D) Visit required.— No retail food store or wholesale food concern of a type determined by the Secretary, based on factors that include size, location, and type of items sold, shall be approved to be authorized or reauthorized for participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program unless an authorized employee of the Department of Agriculture, a designee of the Secretary, or, if practicable, an official of the State or local government designated by the Secretary has visited the store or concern for the purpose of determining whether the store or concern should be approved or reauthorized, as appropriate. (2) The Secretary shall issue regulations providing for— (A) the periodic reauthorization of retail food stores and wholesale food concerns; and (B) periodic notice to participating retail food stores and wholesale food concerns of the definitions of “retail food store”, “staple foods”, “eligible foods”, and “perishable foods”. (3) Authorization periods.— The Secretary shall establish specific time periods during which authorization to accept and redeem benefits shall be valid under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. (4) Electronic benefit transfer equipment and service providers.— Before implementing clause (iv) of paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall issue guidance for retail food stores on how to select electronic benefit transfer equipment and service providers that are able to meet the requirements of that clause. (b) Effective and efficient operation of program; effect of disqualification; posting of bond (1) No wholesale food concern may be authorized to accept and redeem benefits unless the Secretary determines that its participation is required for the effective and efficient operation of the supplemental nutrition assistance program. No co-located wholesale-retail food concern may be authorized to accept and redeem benefits as a retail food store, unless (A) the concern does a substantial level of retail food business, or (B) the Secretary determines that failure to authorize such a food concern as a retail food store would cause hardship to households that receive supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits. In addition, no firm may be authorized to accept and redeem benefits as both a retail food store and as a wholesale food concern at the same time. (2) (A) A buyer or transferee (other than a bona fide buyer or transferee) of a retail food store or wholesale food concern that has been disqualified under section 2021(a) of this title m...

    28 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Also cites: 7 U.S.C. § 2012, 42 U.S.C. § 1762, 44 U.S.C. § 3559

How this bill changes current law

9 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill requires the Secretary to promulgate cybersecurity and digital service regulations for EBT cards, enhancing their security and incorporating modern technologies.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)

    (15) Cybersecurity of ebt cards.--

    This addition establishes a new subsection dedicated to EBT card cybersecurity.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)

    (A) Definitions.--In this paragraph: (i) Chip-enabled.--(I) In general.--The term `chip-enabled', with respect to a payment card, means a payment card that uses industry standard secure payment technology, as identified by the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, that--(aa) provides for secure card-based payment; and (bb) is resistant to cloning.

    This defines 'chip-enabled' for EBT cards, emphasizing secure payment technologies.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)

    (B) Regulations.--(i) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall review and update as necessary, cybersecurity and digital service regulations relating to EBT cards and mobile technologies under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

    This mandates the Secretary to create and periodically update cybersecurity regulations for EBT cards.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)(B)(ii)

    (II)(aa) Each State shall operate the user interfaces listed on the list of required user interfaces maintained by the Secretary under item (dd)(AA), in accordance with this subclause, 1 or more user interfaces of which households in the State may, at the election of the applicable household, use to manage the EBT account of the applicable household.

    This requires States to maintain user interfaces for managing EBT accounts.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)(B)(ii)

    (bb)(AA) A State may operate other user interfaces under item (aa) in addition to the required user interfaces on the list maintained by the Secretary under item (dd)(AA).

    This allows States flexibility in operating additional EBT account user interfaces.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)(B)(ii)

    (CC) During the 10-year period following the date on which the regulations promulgated pursuant to clause (i) become final, unless the Secretary extends that period, the Secretary shall maintain on the list under subitem (AA) the following user interfaces: text message, voice telephone service, and a nondigital user interface that does not require the use of a phone or computer by the household.

    This ensures various user interfaces remain available for EBT management for 10 years.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)(B)(ii)

    (IV) Not later than 2 years after the date on which the regulations promulgated pursuant to clause (i) become final, States shall begin issuing chip-enabled EBT cards.

    This mandates States to begin issuing chip-enabled EBT cards within two years after regulations are established.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)(B)(ii)

    (VI) Not later than 5 years after the date on which the regulations promulgated pursuant to clause (i) become final, States shall be required to reissue any existing valid EBT cards with magnetic stripes as chip-enabled EBT cards without magnetic stripes.

    This requires States to reissue current magnetic stripe EBT cards as chip-enabled cards within five years.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(15)(B)(ii)

    (D) Prohibition on password and pin requirements inconsistent with federal cybersecurity standards.--Beginning 60 days after the date of enactment of this paragraph, a State agency may not require, with respect to a PIN for use of an EBT card or a password for access to an online account or mobile application managing the EBT card, that the PIN or password be periodically changed in circumstances that are prohibited by the NIST PIN and password standards.

    This prohibits States from imposing certain PIN and password requirements that conflict with federal standards.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 6 co-sponsors · 540 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (6)

Not signed on (540)

540 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

technology agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HR 7658?
HR 7658 is sponsored by Lawler, Michael (Republican), Smith, Adam (Democratic), Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (Republican), Riley, Josh (Democratic), Van Drew, Jefferson (Republican), Vindman, Eugene Simon (Democratic), and Goldman, Daniel S. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 7658?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 24, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 7658?
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