This bill aims to help states keep experienced workers in SNAP (food assistance) offices by having the federal government pay for more of the administrative costs. Right now, states have to split the cost of running SNAP programs with the federal government, which can make it hard for them to pay competitive salaries and keep staff. This bill changes that by requiring the federal government to pay 100% of the costs for SNAP office workers—including their salaries, training, and hiring expenses—but only if states agree to pay their workers at least as much as federal employees doing similar work in their area. States would also need to submit a plan showing how they'll use this money to pay their workers fairly. The key idea is simple: if SNAP office workers earn decent wages and the federal government covers those costs, states will have an easier time hiring and keeping qualified people to help people apply for and receive food assistance benefits.

SNAP Administrator Retention Act of 2025

Luján, Ben Ray

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.