Minnesota won’t adopt safety net for people losing SNAP under ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Tamera Walter is afraid she and her children will lose food access when changes to SNAP benefits included in the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” go into effect later this year.

A single mother of two, Walter has Type 2 diabetes and her children have Type 1 diabetes and Celiac disease. “Our health conditions require a diet of high protein and lots of fruits and vegetables.”

With impending work requirements for SNAP recipients, Walter, who’s been scouring job websites since she recently became unemployed, fears she’ll have to add hunger to her list of worries.  

Rep. Xp Lee

She testified last month in favor of HF3773, sponsored by Rep. Xp Lee (DFL-Brooklyn Park), which would create a Minnesota SNAP safety net to catch those in most need of food assistance who might soon struggle to qualify for federal benefits.

The bill failed via a Wednesday party-line vote by the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee.

About 440,000 Minnesotans using SNAP could be impacted as an estimated $186 billion is cut over the next decade, according to the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. HR1 includes changes to work requirements and termination of eligibility for certain noncitizen groups.

When the bill was heard by the committee last month, Rep. Bjorn Olson (R-Fairmont) asked how much this program would cost, and expressed disappointment Wednesday that he has yet to see a fiscal note. “It seems to me that this idea was so bad we’re hearing it twice.”

Lee said a fiscal note would soon be available and argued it was worth moving the bill to the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss the funding piece.

But this was not the only issue Olson has with bill.

“I think we fundamentally disagree on the concept of creating a program to provide assistance to people who aren’t participating in our society. We need to ask them to give a little to get a little.”

“Having a safety net through this transition is a smart way to protect our most vulnerable,” responded Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL-Rochester).