Food banks across North Texas say they are already seeing the impact of sweeping changes to the nation’s largest food assistance program, as millions of families nationwide face reduced access to benefits under a new federal law. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, is undergoing significant changes under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which was signed into law last summer. The legislation cuts an estimated $187 billion from SNAP over the next decade, expands work requirements for recipients, and shifts more costs to states. This marks the largest cut to the program since it began in 1964 and advocates warn the effects are already being felt. Research cited by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows SNAP participation across the country dropped by about 8% between July 2025 and early 2026 — a decline of more than 3 million people losing access to the program. In Texas, food bank leaders say those numbers reflect what they are seeing on the ground. “The changes from the legislation from HR one last year are just really starting to be felt,” said Clarissa Clarke with the North Texas Food Bank. “So people may be losing their benefits because they don’t realize the changes.” One of the biggest shifts involves expanded work requirements, which went into effect in Texas in November. Previously, able-bodied adults without dependents had to meet work requirements up to age 54. Under the new law, that threshold extends to age 64. Requirements for parents have also tightened, lowering the age of children whose caregivers may be exempt. Clarke said those changes can be confusing, and in some cases, people may be losing benefits simply because they are unaware of the new rules. The timing is also raising concerns. Food banks typically see higher demand in the summer months, when children lose access to free or reduced-price school meals. “We always see a bit of an uptick in the summer, because the kids are out of school and they’re not getting the school meals. There are some feeding programs across North Texas and across the state that kind of supplement that,” Clarke said. She added that SNAP cuts could further strain a system that already struggles to meet demand. “SNAP helps our communities so much and it’s something that we can’t really make up the difference for that. So we are really advocating to keep SNAP programs strong for those who need it,” Clarke said. Beyond impact on families, state leaders are also facing new financial pressures tied to the law. For the first time, states may be required to shoulder a portion of SNAP benefit costs depending on their error rates — a measure tied to administrative accuracy, not fraud. In Texas, Clarke said food bank leaders are preparing lawmakers for potentially steep costs. The state could face an estimated $718 million obligation if its error rate falls within a certain range, though final figures won’t be determined until next year. “Texas lawmakers meet biannually to do the budget. It’s gonna change the next year and they won’t be in session. So it’s really difficult to plan for the state to budget for these costs, not knowing what the error rate is,” Clarke said, noting that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is working to improve accuracy. Error rates can include both overpayments and underpayments and are often tied to administrative challenges, including complex applications, processing delays, and staffing shortages, to sort through all the paperwork. Applicants must complete a lengthy process — including a detailed 23-page application, interviews, and periodic reviews — which Clarke said can be difficult for many families navigating the system. At the same time, advocates are working to ensure policymakers understand the distinction between processing errors and fraud. “It is not fraud,Texas has always had really strict work requirements,” Clarke said. “We have a social services team and a call center to help people get their application ready but it’s very tedious. And while we help a lot of people, there’s still a lot people out there that are trying to do this on their own. So the state was making some errors.” Clarke said she’s working to inform lawmakers of the facts ahead of the next legislative session. “I’m meeting with every single legislator. We have 24 house members and seven senators in our 12 county area,” she said. “We feel like it hasn’t gotten necessarily a lot of attention because a lot of other things are going on and we want the legislators to understand this well in advance of going into session next year.” To help track the broader impact of SNAP cuts, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has launched a new data tool within its Congressional District Health Dashboard. The tool allows users to monitor SNAP participation changes over time across congressional districts, alongside dozens of other health and economic indicators. Foundation leaders say the goal is to provide transparency and inform policy decisions. “The data is going to allow us to establish a baseline and then to be able to see changes that happen over time. “So it’s going to be, we hope, a really important resource for the public and policymakers,” said Jamie Bussel, a senior program officer with the foundation. “In a country as wealthy as ours, for kids and families to not know where their next meal is coming is just irresponsible and insidious.” The stakes extend beyond individual households, advocates say, noting that SNAP also serves as an economic driver. The program supports local grocers, farmers, and small businesses by injecting federal dollars into communities. Feeding Texas, a statewide network of food banks, is expected to provide additional insight during a media briefing on Wednesday morning, where experts will outline how the law could affect families and the state’s economy ahead of the next legislative session. For now, food banks say they are bracing for increased demand, while urging leaders to act. “When the SNAP benefits were delayed last fall, we saw a huge increase in need,” Clarke said, adding that North Texas Food Bank works with 500 partner agencies to distribute food, addressing back-to-back crises with the government shut downs and TSA workers not getting paychecks in the spring. “I see all the good work they’re doing, it amazes me. But they can only do so much. And we can only handle it so much,” she said. As lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session, advocates say the decisions made in the coming months could shape how effectively Texas responds to growing food insecurity — and whether families continue to have access to one of the country’s most critical safety net programs. ...read more read less