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Texas SNAP Policy Resources
Prices are rising for everything from groceries to gas.
Fortunately, SNAP makes food more affordable for families, seniors, and other Texans.
Understanding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- SNAP helps families afford groceries when they are going through a tough year.
- Common jobs for Texans enrolled in SNAP include cashier, cook, driver, sales clerk, and more.
- As of August 2025, more than 1.7 million children and more than 500,000 seniors over age 60 were enrolled in SNAP in Texas.
- Texans in rural areas and small towns have higher SNAP participation rates than other Texans.
- The average daily benefit is $6 per person.
- SNAP eligibility requirements: Low income; Work requirements; Prohibition on undocumented immigrants.
Additional resources for understanding SNAP:
- SNAP policy flyer by Texans Care for Children (May 2026)
- Overview of SNAP in Texas by Texans Care for Children (January 2026)
- SNAP in Texas by Feeding Texas
Recent SNAP Policy Changes
- In SB 379, the Texas Legislature prohibited candy and soda purchases with SNAP.
- In HR 1, Congress and the Trump administration expanded SNAP work requirements.
- In HR 1, Congress and the Trump administration created a new SNAP “cost share” for states.
The Texas Legislature Will Pay a Temporary State “Cost Share” in 2027
- In HR 1, Congress and the Trump administration required states to pay a new “cost share” if their payment error rate is over 6%.
- The error rate is a measure of the state’s accuracy calculating the benefit amount for every household in SNAP.
- Texas is working hard to reduce its error rate, but the state is unlikely to reach the 6% threshold this year.
- Texas will not pay the state cost share in future legislative sessions once the error rate is below 6%.
- The state’s cost share during the 2027 legislative session will be:
- $708 million per year if the error rate is over 8%, and
- $354 million per year if the error rate is 6-8%.
Additional resources:
- New SNAP Cost Share and Its Impact on Texas by Feeding Texas
- Additional information on payment error rates by Feeding Texas (April 2026)
How Concerned Texans Can Get Involved
As policymakers address recent changes in SNAP, it’s an important time to remind the Legislature how important SNAP is for kids, families, seniors, and other Texans.
Please visit our Action Center to contact your state legislators and urge them to support a strong SNAP program during the 2027 legislative session.
Reach Out for Additional Information
If you would like additional information, you can contact Tessa Galloso, our Health Policy Associate, at tgalloso@txchildren.org or Diana Forester, our Director of Healthy Policy, at dforester@txchildren.org.
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