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S 4716

SNAP Fraud Reporting Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Rick Scott

The bill requires states to annually report detailed SNAP fraud data to Congress, with penalties (funds withheld) for noncompliance.

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4716

Overview

  • Bill: S. 4716, the SNAP Fraud Reporting Act of 2026
  • Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session
  • Purpose: Amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require states to submit detailed data on fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and to establish annual reporting to Congress based on that data.
  • Sponsor: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) with a co-sponsor noted
  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (as of the bill text date in June 2026)

Key Provisions

  • State Data Submission Requirement

    • Each state must submit data on SNAP fraud to the Secretary of Agriculture within 180 days after enactment, covering the five most recent fiscal years for which data are available.
    • Data elements contemplated include:
    • Number of fraud cases open for investigation
    • Total number of identified fraud cases (including substantiated fraud) and total dollar value of those cases (e.g., card skimming, card cloning)
    • Types and numbers of enforcement actions against SNAP fraud
    • Amount of recoveries from fraud cases

  • Ongoing Annual Data Reporting

    • For each fiscal year beginning after enactment, states must report:
    • The number of individuals disqualified from SNAP for fraud involving deceased recipients or use of a deceased recipient’s identity; and the dollar value of such benefits
    • The number of individuals disqualified for fraud involving no Social Security number or falsified/recycled/stolen/purchased SSNs; and the dollar value of benefits received by those individuals

  • Submissions schedule

    • Initial data submission due within 180 days of enactment
    • Subsequent data submissions due within 60 days after October 1 of each year, for the most recently completed fiscal year

  • Penalties for noncompliance

    • If a state fails to provide the required data by the deadline, the Secretary shall withhold funds to that state under section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act until the data is received.

  • Reporting to Congress

    • The Secretary must prepare and submit to Congress a report (and make it publicly available) containing findings based on the data, within 180 days after receiving data from each state and subsequently annually.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Affected Entity: U.S. states administering SNAP
  • Impacted Parties: SNAP program participants (data about fraud and disqualifications will be collected and reported), state SNAP offices, the Department of Agriculture (FDA’s counterpart is USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service)
  • Broader Impact: Provides Congress and the public with a centralized set of data on SNAP fraud trends, enforcement actions, and recoveries; may influence policy discussions and fraud prevention measures.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Enactment timeline: Requires data submission within 180 days after enactment; ongoing annual submissions due within 60 days after each October 1
  • Data scope: Covers the five most recent fiscal years for the initial submission; thereafter focuses on data for each completed fiscal year
  • Data transparency: The Secretary must produce and publish a Congressional report based on the collected data
  • Compliance mechanism: Federal funding suspension as a penalty for states failing to provide required data

Potential Implications

  • Enhanced visibility into SNAP fraud patterns, enforcement actions, and recoveries
  • Increased accountability for states in monitoring and reporting SNAP fraud
  • Potentially greater emphasis on anti-fraud measures and prevention programs based on reported data
  • Possible administrative and reporting burdens on state SNAP agencies to compile and submit the specified data

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to a particular audience (e.g., policymakers, advocacy groups, or researchers) or add a side-by-side comparison with current SNAP fraud data reporting requirements.

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

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