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S 4832

A bill to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to carry out supplemental nutrition assistance programs.

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Rounds and 1 co-sponsor

The bill lets the Secretary of Agriculture use self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes to administer SNAP on tribal lands, giving tribes control.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4832

Bill Overview

  • Title: A bill to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to carry out supplemental nutrition assistance programs.
  • Session and jurisdiction: United States Senate, Session 119.
  • Status: Introduced and read twice, referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs (as of 2026-06-18).
  • Sponsors: Co-sponsors Mike Rounds and Tina Smith.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The primary aim is to expand the use of self-determination contracting under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEA) to include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for administering supplemental nutrition assistance programs (SNAP) on tribal lands.
  • By authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, the bill seeks to give tribes a greater role and control over SNAP administration within their communities.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • Authority to Contract: Amends ISDEA to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations specifically to carry out SNAP-related activities.
  • Self-Determination Framework: Applies the existing self-determination contract framework (which currently governs other DHS/DOI functions such as social services, education, and nutrition-related programs in some contexts) to SNAP, enabling tribes to administer SNAP services or components instead of the federal program directly.
  • Scope of SNAP Activities: Likely covers planning, administration, delivery, and related program operations under SNAP within tribal jurisdictions, subject to federal standards and oversight.
  • Oversight and Compliance: Preserves the core accountability, reporting, and compliance mechanisms of SNAP, while aligning them with the self-determination contract structure.
  • Relationship with Existing Programs: Signals coordination between USDA SNAP policies and ISDEA contracting processes, maintaining federal eligibility rules, benefit structures, and national program integrity requirements.

3) Beneficiaries and Affected Parties

  • Primary beneficiaries: Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations that opt to enter into self-determination contracts with the USDA to operate SNAP locally.
  • Members of tribal communities: SNAP participants within tribal lands could experience more locally tailored administration, potential improvements in service delivery, and culturally appropriate program operations.
  • Federal agencies: USDA would engage with tribes under ISDEA contracting rules, potentially altering administrative workflows for SNAP in tribal areas.
  • Other stakeholders: State agencies and SNAP partners may engage with tribes under new contracting arrangements, requiring coordination and information sharing.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Referral: Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs on 2026-06-18.
  • Next steps: Committee review, potential hearings, markup, and ultimately floor consideration. If advanced, provisions would be subject to standard federal legislative process, including potential amendments.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the available summary; typical implementation would follow enactment and subsequent rulemaking or program alignment timelines by USDA and participating tribes.

5) Context and Implications

  • Policy significance: The bill represents a shift toward greater tribal sovereignty in administering federal nutrition programs, leveraging the existing ISDEA framework to extend self-determination to SNAP.
  • Operational considerations: Successful implementation would require alignment of SNAP benefit standards with tribal operations, ensuring program integrity, eligibility determinations, pricing, and federal reporting remain compliant with federal law.
  • Potential challenges: Administrative capacity of tribes to assume SNAP operations; funding levels and contract terms; ensuring equity and consistency with non-tribal SNAP participants.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to current ISDEA authorities and existing SNAP administration across tribal lands, or draft a one-page briefing for stakeholders.

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

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