Snap Delivery Modernization Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
- Committees
- Agriculture Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jan 13, 2026
Bottom line
The bill enables SNAP recipients to use their benefits to cover food delivery fees, aiming to improve food access and modernize the program.
What it actually does
This bill, titled the 'Snap Delivery Modernization Act of 2025,' amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to use those benefits to pay for food delivery service fees. It achieves this by adding a definition for 'delivery platform or delivery services provider' and, crucially, by removing delivery fees from the list of charges that SNAP benefits are explicitly prohibited from covering. The intent is to increase food access for SNAP recipients by enabling them to utilize modern food delivery options.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that this bill is a crucial step in modernizing the SNAP program, making it more accessible for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those living in food deserts who face transportation barriers. They contend that allowing benefits to cover delivery fees will enhance food security, promote healthier eating by expanding access to a wider variety of foods, and align SNAP with contemporary shopping habits, especially in an era where online ordering and delivery have become commonplace.
Opponents contend
Opponents might raise concerns that allowing SNAP benefits to cover delivery fees could divert funds from the primary purpose of purchasing food, especially if delivery fees are high or disproportionate to the food's cost. Critics could also argue that this change might inadvertently subsidize private delivery companies, potentially leading to increased federal spending without a clear guarantee of improved nutritional outcomes. There may also be concerns about the administrative complexity of integrating delivery platforms into the SNAP payment system and ensuring program integrity against potential fraud.
The bill is very short and straightforward, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its core provisions within minutes.
Section 2(3)
Permitting SNAP Benefits for Food Delivery Fees
This provision is the core of the bill, amending Section 7(k) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. It explicitly removes delivery fees from the list of charges that SNAP benefits are prohibited from covering. By striking 'delivery' from the existing prohibitions and inserting language that excludes delivery fees charged by retail food stores or delivery platforms from these prohibitions, the bill effectively allows SNAP recipients to use their benefits to pay for the cost of having food delivered to them.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this provision directly addresses a critical barrier to food access for many SNAP recipients, particularly those with mobility challenges, limited transportation, or who live in areas with few grocery stores. They contend it modernizes the program to reflect current consumer behavior and technology, ensuring that SNAP benefits provide maximum utility in a changing retail landscape.
Critics contend
Critics might argue that allowing benefits for delivery fees could lead to a reduction in the actual amount of food purchased, as a portion of the benefit would be spent on a service rather than groceries. They may also express concern that delivery fees can be variable and sometimes high, potentially eroding the purchasing power of SNAP benefits, or that it could create an administrative burden for the USDA and states to monitor fair pricing.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the goal of increasing food access and convenience for SNAP recipients against concerns about the potential for benefits to be diverted from food purchases and the administrative challenges of integrating delivery services into the program while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Section 2(1)
Defining Food Delivery Entities
This section introduces a new definition into the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 for 'Delivery platform or delivery services provider.' This definition clarifies that such an entity is one that either facilitates the online sale or delivery of food from a retail store, or directly delivers food purchased from a retail store, whether using its own service (first-party) or contracting with a third party. This provides the necessary legal framework for the subsequent changes allowing SNAP benefits to cover delivery fees.
Amends the definition of 'food' in Section 3(o)(5)(C) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to explicitly state that 'food' excludes 'related fees for delivery of the food.'
Section 2(2)(B)
Why it matters:This could be an attempt to maintain a conceptual distinction between the 'food' item itself and the 'service' of delivery, even if both can be paid for by SNAP benefits. Alternatively, it might be a poorly drafted clause that creates ambiguity or could be misinterpreted to limit the use of benefits for delivery, potentially undermining the bill's primary goal.
Case for: Supporters might argue that this clarification ensures that the core definition of 'food' remains focused on edible items for home consumption, while the ability to pay for delivery is treated as an allowable service cost rather than part of the food's intrinsic value. This distinction could be important for accounting or reporting purposes.
Case against: Critics might contend that this clause introduces unnecessary confusion or even a contradiction, as the bill's main purpose is to allow benefits for delivery. They could argue it creates a potential loophole or a basis for future administrative challenges if interpreted strictly, potentially hindering the bill's effectiveness in expanding food access.
Estimated impact: While potentially confusing, the explicit allowance for delivery fees in Section 7(k) is likely to override this definitional nuance in practice. However, it could lead to minor administrative or interpretive hurdles for USDA and states.