United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 15 D · 1 I cosponsors

S 4286 — Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026

Last action — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 14, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

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.

  • 16 sponsors

    1 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (15 D · 1 I) — 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.

Summary

Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026This 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 (SFMNP) 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.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

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

The bill extends the certification period for SNAP benefits and adjusts deduction methods to better support older adults and disabled individuals.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2012(f)

    24 → 36

    The maximum certification period for SNAP benefits is extended from 24 months to 36 months for certain households.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)

    an excess medical → a standard medical deduction or a medical expense deduction of actual costs for the allowable medical expenses incurred by the elderly or disabled member, exclusive of special diets.

    The medical expense deduction methodology is revised to allow a standard deduction or actual costs for eligible medical expenses.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2014(e)(5)(B)(i)

    excess

    Terminology is updated to provide clarity in the description of the medical expense deduction.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2017(a)

    8 percent → 1/3

    The minimum allotment amount for households is adjusted from 8 percent to one-third of the cost of the thrifty food plan for eligible households.

  • 7 U.S.C. 2012(j)(2)(B)

    (which includes medical assistance provided to an individual described in section 1902(e)(14)(D)(i)(III) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)(14)(D)(i)(III)))

    The definition of elderly or disabled members is expanded to include those receiving specific medical assistance.

  • SEC. 31. ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION PROGRAM.

    Establishes a new program for streamlined application and certification for elderly and disabled individuals without earned income.

  • SEC. 32. COMBINED APPLICATION PROGRAM.

    Creates a new program to streamline application processes for households with members receiving Social Security benefits.

  • SEC. 33. ENROLLMENT AND OUTREACH PILOT PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS, KINSHIP FAMILIES, AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

    Establishes a pilot program to enhance outreach and enrollment for older adults, kinship families, and adults with disabilities.

Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 531 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (531)

531 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 531 →

"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

healthcare agriculture
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Frequently asked questions

What does S 4286 do?
Senior Hunger Prevention Act of 2026This 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 (SFMNP) 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.
Who sponsors S 4286?
S 4286 is sponsored by Fetterman, John (Democratic), Murphy, Christopher (Democratic), Welch, Peter (Democratic), Blumenthal, Richard (Democratic), Merkley, Jeff (Democratic), Wyden, Ron (Democratic), Booker, Cory A. (Democratic), Warren, Elizabeth (Democratic), Whitehouse, Sheldon (Democratic), Sanders, Bernard (Independent), Markey, Edward J. (Democratic), Heinrich, Martin (Democratic), Schiff, Adam B. (Democratic), Alsobrooks, Angela D. (Democratic), Kim, Andy (Democratic), and Gillibrand, Kirsten E. (Democratic).
What is the current status of S 4286?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 14, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track S 4286?
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