SF4061

Purpose

• Establishes the Minnesota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (MNSNAP) to help adults and children at significant risk of hunger due to cuts and restrictions to federal SNAP benefits.
• Aims to address a perceived crisis created by the ending of federal food benefits for groups such as veterans, seniors, Minnesotans experiencing homelessness, youth aging out of foster care, new Americans, and working parents who have experienced job loss.
• Creates a state-funded program intended to fill gaps left by reduced or restricted federal SNAP benefits.

Main Provisions

• Eligibility and scope

  • Individuals who were or would have been eligible for federal SNAP as of June 30, 2025 are eligible for MNSNAP.
  • Benefits continue for those determined eligible, with the state determining the best way to continue benefits through a state-funded mechanism and county processes.

• Enrollment assessment and support (within 30 days of enrollment)

  • A face-to-face meeting must occur between the participant and the county/Tribal agency or state-approved navigator.
  • The meeting must determine if the participant’s loss of federal SNAP benefits can be explained by factors such as advanced age, illness, injury, violence, addiction, disability, homelessness, veteran status, or aging out of foster care.
  • The participant’s eligibility for an exemption under federal rules (CFR title 7, section 273.24) must be considered.
  • The participant should receive help obtaining a current assessment by a behavioral health or medical professional to identify barriers to meeting federal requirements.
  • The navigator must identify other resources to help the participant meet program requirements.
  • If the participant does not attend the face-to-face meeting, the program must attempt at least one home visit. If the home visit fails, a written notice about MNSNAP must be sent.

• Exiting MNSNAP and conversion to federal SNAP

  • If the assessment shows the participant qualifies for a federal exemption under CFR 273.24, they must exit MNSNAP and convert to federal SNAP benefits.
  • If the assessment shows the participant can consistently meet federal requirements, they must exit MNSNAP and convert to federal SNAP benefits.

• Moratorium on termination of benefits for new federal SNAP restrictions

  • Beginning July 1, 2026, the commissioner must enact an emergency moratorium on terminating food assistance for Minnesotans who are impacted by new federal SNAP restrictions implemented after July 1, 2025, when there is no current medical/behavioral health or vocational assessment indicating the person’s ability to consistently comply with federal requirements.

• Appropriation

  • In fiscal year 2027, money from the general fund is appropriated to the Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families for the Minnesota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (MNSNAP).

Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new state-funded program (MNSNAP) codified under Minnesota Statutes chapter 142F (section 142F.121) to function alongside federal SNAP.
• Establishes a formal process for ongoing benefits, assessments, exemptions, and pathway decisions between state and county/Tribal agencies and federal program rules.
• Introduces a formal moratorium mechanism on terminating benefits in response to new federal SNAP restrictions, contingent on assessments showing ability to comply.

What the bill seeks to accomplish

• Provide a state-level continuation of food benefits for Minnesotans affected by federal SNAP reductions, ensuring access to nutrition for vulnerable groups.
• Create structured assessments to identify barriers to compliance with federal SNAP rules and connect participants with exemptions or resources.
• Maintain a pathway for participants to transition to federal SNAP when appropriate, while safeguarding against abrupt loss of food assistance during ongoing changes in federal policy.

Significant changes to policy landscape

• Shifts some responsibility for ongoing food assistance from the federal system to a state-backed program (MNSNAP) for certain populations.
• Adds mandatory face-to-face assessments, exemption determinations, and resource linkage as part of eligibility maintenance.
• Establishes a temporary protections framework (moratorium) that slows or halts benefit termination in response to new federal restrictions if proper assessments exist.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (MNSNAP) - Minnesota SNAP - Federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) - CFR Title 7, Section 273.24 (federal exemption rules) - Face-to-face meeting - Exemption under CFR 273.24 - Behavioral health or medical assessment - Barriers (advanced age, illness, injury, violence, addiction, disability, homelessness, veteran status, aging out of foster care) - State-funded mechanism - County/Tribal agency - State-approved navigator - Home visit - Written notice - Exit from MNSNAP to federal SNAP - General Fund appropriation - Minnesota Statutes section 142F.121 - Emergency moratorium on termination of benefits - FY2027 appropriation (to the Commissioner of Children, Youth and Families) - Eligibility criteria tied to June 30, 2025 federal SNAP eligibility - Resources and support services for meeting federal requirements