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HB 1797 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Tightening SNAP eligibility and work rules

AI-generated

relative to eligibility for public assistance, including the New Hampshire employment program, family assistance program, and SNAP.

Strengthens SNAP work requirements, bars the department of health and human services from adopting eligibility standards more lenient than federal law, and requires the department to establish data-sharing agreements with multiple agencies to verify recipient eligibility.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · May 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Strengthens work requirements for SNAP eligibility. II. Directs the department of health and human services to enter into data-sharing agreements with other state agencies to verify SNAP benefit eligibility. III. Directs the department to verify eligibility of enrollees that make exclusively out-of-state purchases. IV. Prohibits the department from using their discretion to set more lenient standards for SNAP eligibility or exemptions than those outlined in federal law.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The department of health and human services shall not seek any waiver of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents under 7 U.S.C. section 2015(o)(4), nor shall the department adopt any discretionary exemptions from the work requirement under 7 U.S.C. section 2015(o)(6)(E) without prior legislative approval.”
RSA 167:17-e
“Unless expressly required by federal law, the department of health and human services shall not:”
RSA 167:17-e
“The department of health and human services shall enter into a data-matching agreement with the lottery and gaming commission to identify households with lottery or gambling winnings of $3,000 or more and, to the extent permissible under federal law, treat this data as verified upon receipt.”
RSA 167:17-e
“To the extent that the data may not be verified upon receipt, department shall make such referrals as may be necessary to identify households with winnings equal to or greater than the resource limit for elderly or disabled households as defined in 7 CFR 273.8(b).”
RSA 167:17-e

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Jim KofaltRPrime

Public testimony

345 signed in online · 56 wrote testimony

3% support97% oppose0% neutral

ForSNAP should not fund candy and soda purchases

AgainstAdds bureaucracy/cuts eligibility, causing people to lose food access

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support HB 1797, particularly thee part that prohibits SNAP funds from being spent on candy and soda for children, SNAP should provide funds for healthy, nutritious foods only. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.”
— Amanda Bradford, Gorhamsupports
“This is a punitive bill and I request that you determine it is Inexpedient to Legislate (ILT).”
— Terry Sturke, Bowopposes
“I am a psychotherapist in private practice but see people on Medicare and Medicaid. Starving people who need SNAP benefits is cruel and unusual punishment by a State (and Federal) government and does not serve the interests of anyone.…”
— Lisa Friedlander, Leeopposes
“There are many things that concern me about this bill. The limitations on what one can purchase, the limitations on the department to seek waivers and discrepancies that are fully allowable per federal regulations, the revocation of Broad Based Categorical Eligibility, and the additional administrative burden for other items in this bills are unsustainable.…”
— Jessica Spillers, Manchesteropposes
“I support them referencing systems to ensure compliance but I don’t believe the current case workers have time to do this monthly. I also strongly object to the state sending our information out.…”
— Margaret Konze, Pembrokeneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 4, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1027h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteAmendment 2026-1027hadopted
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1027hAdopted172–161How they voted
    Overall
    52% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    172–697% yea
    Democrats
    0–1550% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 7, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study3–1
    Overall
    75% yea
  • May 7, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 25, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs5:54:54–6:03:088m 14slocated in the stream transcript==CANCELLED== Public Hearing; Public Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs1:44:06–1:48:013m 55slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1027h — roll call; Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floor10:25:25–10:30:425m 17slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1027h — adopted, roll call 172-161; Amendment # 2026-1027h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services38:57–47:599m 2slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 36
  2. Feb 25, 2026House==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 02/25/2026 10:30 am GP 158
  3. Feb 25, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/25/2026 01:00 pm GP 158
  4. Mar 4, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2026 09:00 am GP 158
  5. Mar 4, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1027h 03/04/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 10 P. 54
  6. Mar 4, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 11, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-1027h: AA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 210
  8. Mar 11, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-1027h: MA RC 172-161 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 210
  9. Mar 12, 2026SenIntroduced 03/12/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 7
  10. Apr 8, 2026SenHearing: 04/08/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:15 am; SC 13
  11. May 7, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 05/07/2026; Vote 3-1; CC; SC 17
  12. May 7, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.