Georgia's new SNAP bill targets sky-high error rates and rising costs
Georgia lawmakers are pushing a new bill to cut costs tied to the federal food assistance programme. The state currently faces one of the highest error rates in the country, risking millions in extra payments. A committee has now advanced the proposal to the next stage.
The House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee backed House Bill 947, also called the Georgia SNAP Integrity Act of 2026. If approved, the law would tighten rules around eligibility checks and shorten certification periods for some households. The goal is to bring down Georgia's 15.65% error rate—the third worst nationwide.
Under the bill, states with error rates above 6% would have to cover part of SNAP costs by October 2027. Georgia could end up paying between £130 million and £390 million a year if the rate stays high. The Department of Family and Children's Services would have until January 2029 to roll out the changes.
Officials say the biggest hurdles are verifying incomes and checking eligibility on time. The department wants more flexibility in managing the programme and hopes to automate parts of the process. The bill now moves to the House Rules Committee for further review.
The proposed law targets inefficiencies in Georgia's food assistance system. Stricter checks and shorter certification windows aim to lower the error rate before federal penalties kick in. The state's next steps depend on the House Rules Committee's decision.
