Congress upgrades SNAP security—and gives low-income families real fraud protection
H.R. 7658 — Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026 · Filed by Dan Goldman (D-NY) · 8 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 24, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill modernizes the security of SNAP (food assistance) EBT cards by requiring states to issue chip-enabled cards instead of magnetic-stripe cards, mandating secure online transaction protections, and establishing new user-interface requirements (including text message and voice access) so beneficiaries can monitor accounts and report fraud. It also requires faster replacement of lost or damaged cards (within 3 business days) and eliminates replacement fees for cards damaged or compromised by fraud, while requiring retailers to upgrade to chip-compatible payment terminals to participate in SNAP.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to upgrade SNAP payment infrastructure to modern security standards (chip technology, online fraud detection, real-time monitoring) and strengthen beneficiary protections against fraud and account access loss. It is fundamentally a consumer-protection and public-benefit measure, not a subsidy or deregulation.
What the text implies
- The requirement for retailers to install chip-enabled terminals by 180 days after final regulations may create compliance burden for small rural grocers and convenience stores in underserved areas, potentially affecting SNAP access in food deserts if enforcement is strict without transition support.
- The API requirement allowing third-party software access to EBT accounts (with no fee) creates a new ecosystem of fintech applications around SNAP; this may improve user experience but also introduces data-sharing risks if third-party apps are not adequately regulated.
- The 10-year mandate to maintain text-message and voice-telephone access creates long-term operational costs for states; if technology shifts away from these channels, states may face compliance challenges.
- Online transaction security measures may inadvertently increase friction for legitimate online SNAP purchases if fraud-detection systems are overly aggressive, potentially reducing e-commerce adoption among beneficiaries.
Who it affects
SNAP beneficiaries gain stronger fraud protection, faster card replacement without fees, multiple ways to access accounts (including non-digital options), and real-time transaction monitoring. States receive full reimbursement for upgrade costs. The primary costs fall on retailers, who must upgrade terminals—a reasonable security investment that protects both merchants and low-income households from fraud.
Who stands to gain
- Payment card technology vendors (chip-card manufacturers)
- EBT card processors and contractors
- Retail payment terminal manufacturers and integrators
- Cybersecurity software and services providers
- Fintech companies building third-party EBT account management apps
Named in the bill
USDA Food and Nutrition Service, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), State agencies (SNAP administrators), Retail food stores and wholesale food concerns, EBT card vendors and contractors, Accredited Standards Committee X9, Administration for Children and Families, Puerto Rico (Commonwealth), Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (Section 501, Division HH)
Where it stands
8 cosponsors: 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans.
- Feb 24, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
- Feb 24, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Agriculture · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture”
Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.
Money around this bill
5 lobbying clients named this bill on 5 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $1,164,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 7 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.
More lobbying clients named this bill than 78% of bills with at least one filing.
Dan Goldman, the sponsor, reported $407,029 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.
- Food Marketplace Inc — $584,000 on 1 filing
- Kroger Co — $350,000 on 1 filing
- Fidelity National Information Systems Inc and Subsidiaries — $150,000 on 1 filing
- Amazon.com, Inc. — $80,000 on 1 filing
- Wakefern Food Corp. — $0 on 1 filing
Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.
How this was measured
Analysis — Quorum's AI read the full bill text on Jul 9, 2026; transparency and hidden-provision scores are compared against the median of 16,222 analysed bills.
Status and sponsors — Congress.gov's bill record — actions, committee referrals and cosponsors — loaded nightly. The timeline shows status changes, not every procedural action.
Money — Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act filings whose specific-issue field names this bill for quarters ending Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. A filing's amount is reported whole beside the median number of bills a filing names; it is never divided across them. PAC receipts are FEC-reported contributions to the sponsor's candidate committee in the 2026 cycle.
As of — lobbying records through Jul 20, 2026 · page rendered 2026-10-20.
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