As Farm Bill Advances, AZCenter Urges Congress to Delay Looming SNAP Cost Shift

PHOENIX —  As Congress prepares this week to consider the next federal Farm Bill, the Arizona Center for Economic Progress is urging lawmakers to act quickly to delay a looming cost shift in SNAP that could place significant new financial pressure on Arizona and put food assistance even more at risk for families across the state. 

Under H.R. 1, states will soon be required — for the first time in SNAP’s history — to pay a portion of food benefit costs if they do not meet certain administrative accuracy benchmarks. While this cost shift is not scheduled to take effect until 2027, decisions made now will determine whether states like Arizona have enough time to prepare. 

A small number of states were granted a temporary delay under the law. Arizona was not. 

“Arizona is already facing the largest loss of SNAP benefits in the nation,” said Joseph Palomino, director of AZCenter. “Now, without additional time, the state is on the hook for potentially significant new costs tied to a policy that hasn’t even taken effect yet. Congress has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to fix this before it does real harm.” 

Arizona families already feeling the impact 

Arizona has experienced the steepest decline in SNAP participation in the country in recent months, with 450,000 residents, including 190,000 children, losing access to food assistance. That loss has already made it harder for families to afford groceries and has likely reduced economic activity in communities across the state. 

Advocates warn that failing to delay the upcoming cost shift could deepen those challenges. 

Farm Bill is the key opportunity 

The Farm Bill is the most immediate opportunity for Congress to extend the current two-year delay to all states — ensuring Arizona and others have the same time to improve administrative accuracy while protecting access to food assistance. 

“This is a common-sense fix,” Palomino said. “States are working to improve accuracy, but they’ve been navigating major economic disruptions, new federal requirements, and reduced administrative support. Giving all states the same runway is the only fair and responsible path forward.” 

High stakes for Arizona's budget 

Because Arizona must balance its budget each year, the impending SNAP cost shift could force difficult tradeoffs across critical priorities, including public K-12 education, health care, and other essential services. 

Importantly, the SNAP “payment error rate” used to determine these costs does not measure fraud, but rather the complexity of benefit calculations and administrative processes. 

“This isn’t about waste or abuse — it’s about whether states have the time and resources to administer a complicated program correctly,” Palomino said. “Without that time, Arizona could face serious budget pressures that ultimately hurt families.” 

Broad bipartisan support for delay 

Extending the SNAP cost-shift delay to all states has support from major bipartisan organizations, including the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, and National Association of Counties. 

Protecting Arizona families 

With food prices still high and many families struggling to afford basic necessities, advocates say Congress must ensure the Farm Bill protects both farmers and families. 

“We can support agriculture and protect families at the same time,” Palomino said. “But for Arizona, that starts with delaying this cost shift so the state has a fair chance to get it right without putting food assistance at risk.” 

U.S. House Republicans have announced they will bring their Farm Bill to a final passage vote the last week of April, likely Thursday.  

More resources and information on SNAP benefit loss in Arizona: 

• AZCenter press releases 
• AZCenter reports and analyses: 
  • SNAP Losses Are Rippling Across Arizona — and the Economic Damage Is Growing 
  • A Rapid Loss of Food Assistance: 375K Arizonans Cut off From SNAP Benefits in 6 Months 
  • What SNAP’s Payment Error Rate Really Means — and Why It Matters for Arizona   
  • SNAP Policy Changes Are Still Unfolding in Arizona — Here’s What to Know 
  • The SNAP Crisis is Not Over With Looming Obstacles for Arizonans