# SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025

This bill is designed to help states pay better wages to the people who run the SNAP food assistance program—the folks who process applications, determine eligibility, and manage benefits for millions of Americans receiving food stamps. Right now, states cover part of these administrative costs themselves, and the federal government picks up the rest. The problem is that many states don't pay their SNAP workers very well, which means high turnover and difficulty filling positions. When experienced workers leave, it takes longer to process applications and help people get the benefits they need.

The bill makes a significant change: it requires the federal government to pay 100 percent of all administrative personnel costs for SNAP, rather than splitting the bill with states. This includes salaries, hiring, training, and benefits for everyone who works on the program. To qualify for this full funding, states must meet new wage standards—they have to pay SNAP workers at least as much as the federal government pays similar employees, and they must increase those wages annually to keep up with federal pay raises. States also have to submit their wage plans to the federal government for approval within a year.

The practical effect is that SNAP workers should see better pay and more stable employment, which means faster application processing and better service for people trying to access food assistance. However, there's a catch: states can only use this federal money to add new positions or maintain existing ones from 2024 onward—they can't use it to replace state funding they were already spending. This is meant to ensure states don't just shift costs to the federal government without actually improving their programs. For everyday people, the main benefit would be shorter wait times and smoother application processes when they apply for or renew SNAP benefits.

SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025

Hayes, Jahana

SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025This bill directs the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to pay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) state agencies for 100% of SNAP administrative personnel costs. The bill also&nbsp;requires that state SNAP agency administrators be paid at least the same amount as federal employees. (Under current law, FNS generally pays 50% of a state's administrative costs for SNAP.)Specifically, FNS must pay a state agency for 100% of all SNAP administrative personnel costs that are part of an&nbsp;FNS-approved state agency personnel wage plan. This must include all costs associated with hiring and training new employees, maintaining those personnel costs,&nbsp;and&nbsp;complying with wage standards. The state agency must use these funds (1) to supplement, not supplant, nonfederal funds used for existing administrative personnel costs; and (2) for existing or additional full-time positions that are above the number of positions that were held in FY2024.The bill also requires that the wage standards for SNAP state agency administrators be (1) at least the same amount as the General Schedule (GS) pay rate for federal employees; and (2) updated annually based on any increase in the GS pay rate, including locality adjustments.