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The Kansas Health Institute (KHI) is watching changes in federal and state health and food policies to see how they affect people in Kansas. One key focus is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps low-income individuals and families buy groceries. Recent policy changes have affected who can qualify for SNAP, work requirements, and how food security data is collected.

SNAP began as the Food Stamp Program in the 1960s to help families facing hunger and support farmers. Kansas joined the program in 1971. Over the years, lawmakers added work requirements and eligibility rules. The program was renamed SNAP in 2008. Since 2015, Kansas has had some of the strictest SNAP rules in the nation.

On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which included major changes to SNAP and other programs affecting the nation’s food system.

During the federal government shutdown in November, the USDA temporarily suspended SNAP funding to states for two weeks. Despite this, some states, including Kansas, continued issuing benefits, while other states resumed assistance shortly after Congress passed a funding bill on November 12, 2025.

On November 7, Governor Laura Kelly reported that the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) had distributed more than $31.6 million in SNAP benefits to about 86,000 Kansas households during the federal shutdown.

Today, about 93,000 Kansas households receive SNAP each month. The program helps families afford food, supports local grocery stores, and strengthens local economies. KHI will continue tracking how these changes impact food access, health, and economic stability across Kansas.