Won $3K in the Idaho Lottery? No food stamps for you. What legislators just did
Legislation that would tighten eligibility and add anti-fraud checks to the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, passed the Senate handily on Monday.
House Bill 730 would require the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to enter into a data-matching agreement with the State Lottery Commission to identify households with lottery winnings of $3,000 or more, refer certain cases for investigation and disenroll ineligible households.
Health and Welfare estimates it would cost the state $351,000 to develop the new system. Additional funds that might be needed would be included in next year’s budget requests, according to the bill’s statement of purpose.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. John Vander Woude, R-Nampa, and Sen. Julie VanOrden, R-Pingree, would also require the department to conduct routine cross-checks with beneficiary records, out-of-state electronic benefit transfer (EBT) use, incarceration status and wage information.
It also would restrict SNAP eligibility for immigrants who entered the country illegally and require Health and Welfare to report to the federal government on cases where it is unable to verify a person’s citizenship status.
The bill’s fiscal note says it would ultimately reduce taxpayer spending on SNAP over time, though it said precise cost savings cannot be projected at this time.
“The federal government is placing increased scrutiny on SNAP dollars and making it clear that states are responsible for preventing fraud and ensuring program integrity,” VanOrden said Monday on the Senate floor. “This bill puts strong systems and processes in place to detect fraud, verify eligibility and ensure benefits are going to only those who truly qualify.”
There was no further debate or comments in opposition. The Senate voted 29-6 to amend the bill, sending it back to the House.
Another SNAP-related bill moving through the Legislature would clarify what constitutes candy and soda for the purposes of the program. Lawmakers banned such items from SNAP purchases during the 2025 session but have heard since its implementation Feb. 15 that retailers and consumers have had difficulty interpreting the existing definitions of candy and soda. Under the definitions, recipients can use SNAP to buy Oreos and Twix bars but not certain granola bars and trail mixes.
