This week we have been examining the changes in legislation and policy that are affecting food programs. The changes to programs like SNAP have shifted more of the fiscal and administrative responsibility for food subsidies and food programs from the federal government to individual states. In New York, the governor and state legislature have looked for ways to make up for this gap in funding caused by the new eligibility requirements for food programs, the cancellation of some programs and the increased cost of the administration of existing programs.
Changes to SNAP Eligibility and the Impact on New Yorkers
According to an estimate by Governor Kathy Hochul’s office 300,000 households in the state could lose SNAP eligibility due to OBBB. The bill introduces several restrictive provisions that New York is currently navigating:
- Expanded Work Requirements: Stricter “Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents” (ABAWD) rules now apply to adults up to age 64 (previously 54). For the first time, parents of school-age children (age 14+) and homeless individuals are subject to these time limits.
- Benefit Erosion: OBBB restricts the USDA’s ability to update the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines benefit levels. This is expected to result in an average loss of $220 per month for impacted New York families.
- Eligibility for Non-Citizens: The federal law restricts SNAP for many legally present refugees and asylees.
State of Emergency
Following the federal SNAP cutoff in late 2025, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency and allocated $106 million in immediate state funds to the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance (HPNAP) and Nourish NY programs. The HPNAP program provides funding for the operations cost of running a food pantry and provides financial assistance for food pantries to purchase food. The Nourish NY program provides money to food banks to purchase products from New York State farms and food producers. The goal of this declaration of a state of emergency was to provide funding to programs to support people that were affected by changes from the OBBB.
Proposed Changes to Address the Funding Gap
- NY PLATES (New York Providing Logistics and Technology for Essential Services)
This program addresses a logistical problem for many local pantries. Many throughout the state were designed to handle dry goods, not the high volume of fresh produce and dairy now being diverted from federal programs. Governor Hochul has proposed $10 million in funding for this grant program. The program would assist small, community-based sites and help them transform from small operations into hubs capable of handling perishable items.
- HPNAP & Nourish NY
The FY 2027 Executive Budget proposes a combined $127.8 million to expand funding to HPNAP and Nourish NY
- HPNAP ($72.8M): This is the backbone of food bank funding. It covers the costs of purchasing food, but also helps with “transportation and personal service” (the labor of getting food to people).
- Nourish NY ($55M): This has become a permanent state fixture. It serves a dual purpose: it provides food banks with credits to buy directly from New York farmers. As OBBB introduced new federal tariffs and agricultural shifts, Nourish NY acts as a “buy local” initiative that keeps New York’s agricultural economy stable while feeding residents.
- SNAP Navigators Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP)
To address the administrative burden caused by changes to SNAP and stricter eligibility requirements. Lawmakers have proposed introducing a program to help New Yorkers navigate the intricacies of the sign-up process.
Navigators would act as “benefit defense attorneys,” helping families across the state file the correct paperwork to prevent “churn”, which could cause families to lose benefits because they couldn’t navigate the federal portal or couldn’t prove their eligibility. Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for $8.5 million (up from the $3.7 million floor) to staff “SNAP Navigators.”
The essence of the debate around food programs for New York is ideological. Members of Congress, federal agencies and conservative lawmakers have passed legislation or enacted policies based on a belief that there is waste, fraud and abuse in both the administration of food programs and by some of the people that utilize the programs. They further argue that non-citizens and able bodied people should not be eligible for these programs. Liberal lawmakers and administrators like Governor Hochul, contend that the new requirements and decreased funding will impact the most vulnerable people in the state and that they need to respond to fight hunger and poverty. Let us know what you think.
At Foodstream our mission is to serve as the intelligence layer of food security. We continue to analyse and report on food policy and legislation that impacts our members. Follow us for more at Foodstream. If you have any questions about changes to food programs impacting you or your organization, email us at support@foodstreamnetwork.com. We are happy to assist.
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