SB3276 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 17425 WRO 30850 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3276

Introduced 2/3/2026, by Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 5015/10
20 ILCS 5015/25 new

Amends the Commission to End Hunger Act. Creates the SNAP Response Working Group. Provides that the co-chairs of the Commission to End Hunger shall convene and appoint the co-chairs of the Working Group. Provides that the Working Group shall review and analyze federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), gather and analyze data regarding the potential impact of the federal changes to SNAP on Illinois residents, and gather relevant estimates and data about Illinois' SNAP payment error rate, including the monthly State-reported error rate. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to make projections about the cost to the State to maintain SNAP in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Directs the Working Group to submit a preliminary report to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2027. Provides that the preliminary report shall outline the federal changes to SNAP and identify the number of State residents impacted by those changes. Further provides that the preliminary report shall include initial recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate any harm to State residents caused by the federal changes and shall project the cost to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028. Provides that, no later than April 1, 2027, the Working Group shall issue a full report to the General Assembly that includes an analysis on the impact of federal changes to SNAP on Illinois, final recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate harm resulting from those changes, updated projections of the cost to maintain the program in federal Fiscal Year 2028, and any other cost projections relating to the Working Group's recommendations. Requires the SNAP Response Working Group to provide any relevant additional updates to its recommendations or projections as appropriate. Specifies that all reports of the Working Group shall be published by the Department of Human Services on its website. Provides that the SNAP Working Group shall be dissolved on May 31, 2027. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Commission to End Hunger Act is amended by changing Section 10 and by adding Section 25 as follows:

(20 ILCS 5015/10)

Sec. 10. Creation of the Commission to End Hunger.

(a) The General Assembly authorizes the Department of Human Services to create the Commission to End Hunger.

(b) The purpose of the Commission to End Hunger shall be to develop an action plan every 2 years, review the progress of this plan, and ensure cross-collaboration among government entities and community partners toward the goal of ending hunger in Illinois.

(c) Key duties of the Commission shall include the following:

(1) Identify all funding sources which can be used toward improving nutrition and ending hunger, for which the State has administrative control, and develop recommendations for future funding.

(2) Identify barriers to access and develop sustainable policies and programs to address those barriers.

(3) Promote and facilitate public-private partnerships.

(4) Develop benchmarks and set goals to indicate success.

(5) Report to the Governor and the General Assembly on progress.

(6) Convene and appoint the co-chairs of the SNAP Response Working Group.

(Source: P.A. 96-1119, eff. 7-20-10.)

(20 ILCS 5015/25 new)

Sec. 25. SNAP Response Working Group.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" or "federal changes to SNAP" means changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under Public Law 119-21 and any federal regulatory changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program since the enactment of Public Law 119-21.

"SNAP" means the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

"Working Group" means the SNAP Response Working Group established under this Section.

(b) A SNAP Response Working Group shall be convened by the Illinois Commission to End Hunger for the purpose of:

(1) evaluating the impacts of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under Public Law 119-21 on Illinois residents receiving or in need of food assistance;

(2) providing critical information and analysis to the General Assembly about those impacts; and

(3) making recommendations about how to prevent or mitigate harm to Illinoisans who are receiving SNAP benefits or who are otherwise in need of food assistance as a result of the federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

(c) The Working Group shall have two co-chairs who shall have the authority to determine meeting schedules, hearing schedules, and agendas. One co-chair shall be the representative of a food bank that serves a community of over 5 million people. The other co-chair shall be either a member of the Illinois Senate or a member of the Illinois House of Representatives who has been appointed to the Working Group as set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(d) The Working Group shall be composed of 26 members appointed as follows:

(1) 2 co-chairs of the Working Group, appointed by the co-chairs of the Commission;

(2) 2 members of the Illinois Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) 2 members of the Illinois Senate, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;

(4) 2 members of the Illinois House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(5) 2 members of the Illinois House of Representatives, appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(6) one member who is a representative of the Office of the Governor, designated by the Governor;

(7) the Director of Aging or the Director of Aging's designee;

(8) the Director of Healthcare and Family Services or the Director of Healthcare and Family Services' designee;

(9) the Secretary of Human Services or the Secretary of Human Services' designee; and

(10) the following 12 members, appointed by the co-chairs of the Working Group:

(A) one member who is a representative of a food bank that serves a community of less than 5 million people;

(B) one member who is a representative of a mutual aid organization that provides food assistance;

(C) one member who is a representative of a statewide coalition that represents human service providers;

(D) one member who is a representative of a statewide business association that represents grocery stores;

(E) one member who is a representative of an organization that provides domestic violence services;

(F) one member who is a representative of an organization that provides free legal services to people experiencing poverty;

(G) one member who is a representative of an organization whose mission is to end homelessness;

(H) one member who is a representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of children;

(I) one member who is a representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of older adults;

(J) one member who is a representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of people with disabilities;

(K) one member who is a representative of an advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the leadership of low-income individuals and households, many of whom participate in the SNAP, in chapters statewide;

(L) one member who is a representative of a union representing front line State employees who administer public benefits programs.

(e) Members of the Working Group shall serve without compensation and shall be adults and residents of Illinois.

(f) Appointments shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly.

(g) The Directors of relevant State agencies, including the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the Department on Aging, and the Department of Human Services, shall, to the extent practicable and subject to federal and State law, provide any relevant data requested by the Working Group regarding the potential impact of federal changes to SNAP, including any data, estimates, or projections about the SNAP payment error rate, SNAP participation, and projected costs.

(h) The duties of the Working Group shall be as follows:

(1) to review and analyze the federal changes to SNAP and the timeline for those changes;

(2) to gather and analyze data regarding the potential impact of the federal changes to SNAP on Illinois residents, including, but not limited to:

(A) the number of people who will lose access to SNAP benefits because of the federal changes, by county, and, if possible, legislative district;

(B) the potential disparate impact the federal changes to SNAP will have on certain Illinois residents, including, but not limited to, children, older adults, immigrants, communities of color, people experiencing homelessness, rural communities, veterans, and people with disabilities;

(C) the economic impact that a reduction or loss of SNAP benefits and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program overall will have on Illinois, on a statewide basis, by county, and, if possible, legislative district;

(D) the impact of the federal changes to SNAP on other State-funded services; and

(E) the impact of federal changes to SNAP on the capacity of the emergency food system;

(3) to gather relevant estimates and data about Illinois' SNAP payment error rate, including the monthly State-reported error rate, and make projections about the cost to the State to maintain the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program in Illinois in federal Fiscal Year 2028; and

(4) to identify non-SNAP food assistance available across Illinois and evaluate its capacity to meet the needs of the people of Illinois.

(i) The Working Group shall submit:

(1) a summary report to the General Assembly on or before January 1, 2027, which, at minimum:

(A) outlines the federal changes to SNAP;

(B) identifies the number of State residents impacted by those changes;

(C) includes initial recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate harm to Illinois SNAP benefit recipients or Illinois residents in need of food assistance resulting from the federal changes to SNAP; and

(D) projects the cost to the State to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in federal Fiscal Year 2028 as the program is implemented at the time the report is issued; and

(2) a full report to the General Assembly on or before April 1, 2027, which includes:

(A) an analysis of the impact of the federal changes to SNAP on Illinois;

(B) final recommendations for State action to prevent or mitigate harm resulting from federal changes to SNAP on SNAP benefit recipients or Illinois residents in need of other food assistance;

(C) an updated projection of the cost to the State to maintain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program in federal Fiscal Year 2028 as the program is implemented at the time that the report is issued; and

(D) any other cost projections, including any potential cost savings, related to the recommendations.

The Working Group shall also provide any additional relevant updates to its recommendations or projections to the General Assembly as appropriate.

(j) The reports, projections, updates, or other relevant information regarding the Working Group shall be made available by the Department of Human Services on its website.

(k) Staff support for the Working Group, including scheduling, compilation of data, and drafting support, may be provided by staff of a food bank or other organization with a representative on the Working Group.

(l) The Working Group is dissolved, and this Section is repealed, on May 31, 2027.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.