Ohio leaders warn SNAP cuts could overwhelm state budget, food banks

Farah Siddiqi

Ohio advocates said proposed federal cuts to SNAP could force the state to absorb hundreds of millions in costs, threatening food access for families, seniors, and veterans.

The House Agriculture Committee recently advanced a bill to cut more than $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and shift costs to states.

Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, said Ohioans need to pay attention.

"What's included in the bill text that came out of the House Agriculture Committee would have devastating impacts for the first line of defense against hunger in our country, our primary nutrition safety net program, which is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP," Novotny explained.

Supporters of the bill said it promotes efficiency and state flexibility. Critics argued it would shift nearly $1 billion in SNAP costs to Ohio over two years, equivalent to the state's entire Department of Job and Family Services general revenue fund.

Novotny warned without federal support, the burden on states would jeopardize other critical services and overwhelm food banks.

"To instead suggest that states like Ohio could come up with $500 million in state general revenue a year to supplement the benefit rather than the federal government continuing to guarantee that basic access to food assistance as an entitlement... we don't want you to experience hunger," Novotny emphasized.

Novotny urged Ohioans to contact their members of Congress. She argued a traditional, bipartisan Farm Bill is the better path forward to protect access to food and support the state's agricultural economy.