A House-passed budget package that could have a big effect on Arizona's SNAP recipients and require the state to pay millions in matching money is anticipated to be sent to the U.S. Senate for consideration this week.
According to the measure, states like Arizona would have to pay a portion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's expenses by 2028, and billions would be eliminated from the program countrywide.
Currently, SNAP is fully federally funded.
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Arizona serves approximately 800,000 SNAP recipients, making it one of the programs with the highest participation rates in the state.
The proposed changes could put Arizona lawmakers in the position of either finding new revenue sources or reducing benefits for residents.
January Contreras, president and CEO of the Arizona-based Children's Action Alliance, said the Congressional Budget Office projects some states may not provide the required matching funds.
This could force Arizona to choose between budget constraints and maintaining current benefit levels.
Under the proposed changes, individual benefits could drop to approximately $180 per month, according to Contreras, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of Arizona families.
Arizona's Republican congressional delegation largely supported the House version, while Democratic representatives opposed the cuts.
The state's senators will now weigh in as the upper chamber considers the legislation.
