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HF 970

A bill for an act relating to the double up food bucks program, the supplemental nutrition assistance program and making appropriations and including effective date provisions.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Provides grants to expand Double Up Food Bucks and, if federal waiver granted, narrows SNAP eligible foods to healthier items via state-administered program.

Referred to Appropriations.
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Bill Summary · HF 970

Summary — HF 970 (2025)

Purpose

HF 970 would support Iowa’s Double Up Food Bucks initiative and seek to change which foods are eligible under a state-administered version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill also makes a supplemental appropriation to expand Double Up Food Bucks and establishes reporting and implementation conditions tied to federal approval.

Key provisions

  • Supplemental appropriation

    • Appropriates $1,000,000 from the state general fund to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for FY 2025–2026 to provide grants supporting the Double Up Food Bucks program administered by the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative.
    • Grant recipients must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar match of the grant assistance (per the bill explanation).
    • Appropriated funds do not revert at fiscal year end (not subject to section 8.33 reversion).

  • Program reporting

    • Beginning January 1, 2026, HHS, in cooperation with the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, must submit an annual report to the General Assembly including: number of participants, participating locations (and types), annual redemption amounts, and redemption rates.

  • SNAP eligible-foods waiver request

    • HHS is directed to request a waiver from USDA Food and Nutrition Service to allow a state-administered SNAP to limit eligible foods to items described as “healthy food based on necessary nutrition for good health” — examples listed include healthy grains, dairy, meat, eggs, peanut butter and nuts, pasta, rice, legumes, fruits and vegetables.

  • Durability of the healthy-food standard

    • As amended (H-1199), the healthy-food standard adopted upon federal approval could not be rescinded except by enactment of state legislation.

  • Contingent effective date

    • The appropriation and the SNAP-eligibility changes take effect only if and when HHS receives the federal approval (waiver) to modify eligible foods under state administration of SNAP.

Who is affected

  • SNAP participants in Iowa (potentially affected if a state-administered SNAP with a narrowed eligible-food list is implemented).
  • Low-income consumers who use Double Up Food Bucks (farmers markets, grocery stores, participating retailers).
  • Iowa Healthiest State Initiative (program administrator) and HHS (grant administrator and waiver applicant).
  • Farmers, retailers, and vendors participating in Double Up Food Bucks.

Procedural status and actions

  • Introduced: March 20, 2025; placed on Appropriations calendar.
  • Amendments: H-1199 adopted (added non-rescind clause); H-1178 withdrawn; H-1181 (containing the appropriation and waiver language) was filed but faced a point of order and a failed motion to suspend rules.
  • Passed House: March 26, 2025 (56 yeas, 40 nays).
  • Referred to Appropriations: June 16, 2025.

Note: Several amendments were filed and contested on the House floor; the bill’s substantive provisions (appropriation, waiver request, reporting, and contingent effective date) appear tied to specific amendments and federal approval, so final implementation depends on subsequent committee/floor actions and any required federal waiver.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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