SNAP Administrator Retention Act

Summary#

This bill, the SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025, changes Section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. It requires state agencies that run the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay their SNAP staff at rates at least equal to the pay rates for Federal employees under subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, and to update those wages each year to match any increases and locality adjustments. Within one year after the bill becomes law, each state must submit a personnel wage plan with position titles, duties, wages, and pay rates for approval. After the Secretary approves a wage plan, the federal government must pay 100 percent of the state agency administrative personnel costs for carrying out SNAP, including costs for processing, hiring, training, maintaining those personnel costs, and complying with the new wage standards. The bill also requires that federal payments supplement, not replace, non-Federal funds and be used for positions at or above the number of full-time equivalent positions in fiscal year 2024.

What it means for you#

  • For state SNAP agencies: They must create and submit wage plans within one year and may receive full federal reimbursement for eligible personnel costs after approval.
  • For SNAP staff: The bill would require a minimum pay level tied to Federal pay rates and annual updates for increases and locality pay.
  • For SNAP applicants and recipients: No direct program benefit or eligibility change is specified in the text; the bill focuses on agency staffing and pay.

Expenses#

  • The bill instructs the Secretary to pay 100 percent of administrative personnel costs for approved wage plans, including hiring and training costs. The text does not state any dollar amounts or overall cost estimates.
  • No publicly available information on total federal cost or budgetary estimates is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s stated purpose is to increase the Federal cost share for SNAP administration to improve staffing and retention by raising wage standards for state SNAP personnel and reimbursing state administrative personnel costs.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.