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2022 Iowa Legislative Session Starts Off with an Ugly Tone

This week, the Iowa Legislature gaveled in for the 2022 session. In his opening remarks, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver called public assistance programs a “lifestyle.” In Gov. Reynold’s Condition of the State address, she stated “the safety net has become a hammock” that is leading to societal decay.

Anti-hunger advocates, it’s clear we’re in for an ugly session. But before we get into the bad bills we’ve already seen proposed, let’s start on a positive note.

Iowa Hunger Coalition’s 2022 Legislative Agenda

A top item of our advocacy agenda this year is asking the legislature to support the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program with a $1 million appropriation to help low-income Iowans on SNAP afford fresh fruits and vegetables. The number one barrier identified by SNAP participants to eating more healthy food is prohibitive cost. And Double Up Food Bucks is a triple-win for Iowa: it supports families, farmers, and the local economy.

Double Up Food Bucks Flyer

While we have a few positive opportunities ahead of us this session, we unfortunately once again will be defending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from harmful changes.

On Tuesday, Rep. Ann Meyer introduced seven bills related to SNAP in the House Human Resources Committee. The language in these bills appears to be taken verbatim from SF389, which passed the Senate last year despite strong opposition from advocates.

Three of the bills are blatantly bad, and the Iowa Hunger Coalition is already registered against them. The other four could have the potential to improve the state’s verification system, but more needs to be known about about the cost and impact on people enrolled in SNAP. See below for more information on these bills.

So, what can you do?

  • First, you can contact your legislators (find them here) and let them know you support SNAP and the Double Up Food Bucks program.

  • Second, save the date for the Iowa Hunger Coalition’s online day of action on Wednesday, February 9. We’ll be holding a webinar at 9:00am and will provide multiple ways you can take action throughout the day, no matter where you are in the state. More details will be announced shortly.

  • Submit public comments and attend subcommittee meetings as you are able. We’ll be sure to let you know as those arise. See below for subcommittee assignments.

  • Finally, consider submitting a letter to the editor to your local paper. The disturbing rhetoric we have heard from our state’s leadership can’t go unanswered.

Thank you for your steadfast advocacy to end hunger and food insecurity in Iowa. We need you in this fight now more than ever.

Details on proposed SNAP bills this session

Seven bills pertaining to SNAP were introduced in the Iowa House on Tuesday, January 11, by Rep. Ann Meyer.

Perhaps the worst of the bunch is HSB 508, which would decrease access and kick people off SNAP by establishing an asset limit.

  • Households would face a limit of $2,500 in assets, or $3,750 in assets if at least one member of the household is age 60 or older, or is disabled. The value of a household’s primary residence and one vehicle would be excluded, as would retirement accounts.

  • Asset limits have been shown to discourage people who are eligible from applying for SNAP, increase administrative costs, and discourage people from saving for emergencies. Even children’s savings accounts would count toward the total asset limit for a household.

  • The median bank account amount is $150 for SNAP households (among those with an account).

  • Households with more than one vehicle would be at risk of losing eligibility for SNAP benefits. Having a vehicle can be the difference between finding employment or not, especially in rural areas of the state without public transit.

Another bad bill is HSB 505, which requires custodial parents to cooperate with the child support recovery unit or lose access to their SNAP benefits.

  • There is no evidence this type of policy generates significantly more child support payments to custodial households.

  • There is not a way to implement this provision that does not result in taking food away from children.

  • The National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) opposed a measure in the 2018 Farm Bill that would require all states to implement cooperation requirements for SNAP.

  • A subcommittee meeting for HSB 505 is scheduled for next Tuesday, January 18, at 4:00pm in Room 304.1. Submit a public comment or contact the subcommittee members below to let them know you oppose this bill!

    Rep. Anne Osmundson, anne.osmundson@legis.iowa.gov
    Rep. Steven Bradley, steven.bradley@legis.iowa.gov
    Rep. Kristin Sunde, kristin.sunde@legis.iowa.gov

HSB 504 would require SNAP applicants to authenticate their identity with a computerized knowledge-based questionnaire.

  • This bill appears to go against federal USDA FNS guidelines for identity authentication systems, which states that “the use of an identity authentication process must be an option to applicants that they can choose to opt into or out of at any time during the application process without negative consequences.”

  • While this bill has the potential to increase access for some people, it also presents a significant access barrier to many people, especially those without internet access, limited credit history, or limited English proficiency.

  • Were this new computerized identity authentication process an option, not a requirement, it would have the potential to increase access for SNAP applicants and would be in-line with USDA regulations.

  • A subcommittee meeting for HSB 504 already met on Thursday, January 13. Please email the subcommittee members below and ask them to change the language in HSB 504 to allow applicants to opt-out of the computerized process:

    Rep. Tom Moore, tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov
    Rep. Eddie Andrews, eddie.andrews@legis.iowa.gov
    Rep. Liz Bennett, liz.bennett@legis.iowa.gov

The other four bills could also be cause for concern. The Iowa Hunger Coalition is currently registered as “undecided” on these bills as we seek to learn more about their impact.

HSB 502 and HSB 507 both focus on implementing new verification and authentication systems for SNAP and other public assistance programs.

HSB 503 and HSB 515 focus on public assistance program fraud and case reviews, respectively.

  • It is not clear what problems these bills would actually address that aren’t already covered by existing Iowa law and DHS policy.
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Sales Tax Exemption Webinar on December 15

During the 2021 legislative session, the Iowa Hunger Coalition and other anti-hunger groups successfully advocated for sales tax exemption for Iowa’s nonprofit food banks, pantries, and anti-hunger organizations. The sales tax exemption language was included in Senate File 619, which Gov. Reynolds signed into law on June 16, 2021.

Do you have questions about how your organization might claim exemption from the Iowa state sales tax?

Join the Iowa Hunger Coalition on Wednesday, December 15, at 1:00pm to learn how your anti-hunger organization could benefit from this policy change and tips on navigating the sales tax exemption form with your vendors.

Register to Attend
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Iowa Hunger Coalition Commends Increase to SNAP Benefits

The Iowa Hunger Coalition commends the USDA’s modernization of the Thrifty Food Plan announced last week. This will result in a 27% increase to the average Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit amount for 285,000 Iowans enrolled in the program, known in Iowa as Food Assistance. This will amount to an additional $116 million in annual SNAP benefits from the federal government for program participants in Iowa.

The increase will take effect on October 1, one day after a temporary 15% increase to SNAP benefits included in the 2021 American Rescue Plan expires on September 30.

“Over the last 17 months, our food pantry—like many across Iowa—has experienced a record number of visitors,” said John Boller, Executive Director of the Coralville Community Food Pantry and Iowa Hunger Coalition board member. “Though food pantries have served as a constant safety net for Iowans in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, we have not fought hunger alone. Safety net programs like SNAP, especially the Emergency Allotments made available throughout the course of the pandemic, have been crucial in ensuring food security throughout our state. I wholeheartedly welcome the new increase in SNAP benefits, which will put more food on the table for those who need and deserve it.”

Since April 2020, SNAP program participants in Iowa have been receiving the maximum possible benefit amounts due to Emergency Allotments being issued by the USDA. This has led to a 100% increase in the total amount of SNAP benefits issued in the state. Emergency allotments will continue to be issued until the state lifts the emergency health declaration.

“While the USDA’s announcement is great news for people enrolled in SNAP, there are still many Iowans struggling with hunger and food insecurity who do not qualify for the program,” said Natalie Veldhouse, Policy Advocate at Common Good Iowa and chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition. “We have also yet to see the impending result of ending Emergency Allotments that is sure to have a large impact on Iowans facing hunger and the nonprofit organizations that assist them. The pandemic has affirmed that safety net programs like SNAP are very effective in meeting the economic and health needs of people experiencing poverty.”

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Help Advance Senate File 306

SF 306 exempts “nonprofit food banks” from the state sales tax, freeing up funds for these organizations to provide more food to people facing food insecurity. The bill defines a “nonprofit food bank” as:

an organization organized under chapter 50 and qualifying under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code that maintains an established operation involving the provision of food or edible commodities or the products thereof on a regular basis to persons in need or to food pantries, soup kitchens, hunger relief centers, or other food or feeding centers that, as an integral part of their normal activities, provide meals or food on a regular basis to persons in need.

The fiscal note for an identical proposal that passed the House last session found that this exemption would lead to $206,000 saved by qualifying organizations in FY22 that could be directed back to purchasing more food.

This is not a large ask of the state, but would have a meaningful impact for qualifying nonprofit food banks, food pantries, anti-hunger organizations, and the people they assist every day.

A subcommittee has been assigned for SF 306, but a meeting has not yet been scheduled. Please reach out to the members of this subcommittee today and ask them to schedule a subcommittee meeting for SF 306.

Sen. Dan Dawson
dan.dawson@legis.iowa.gov

Sen. Janet Petersen
janet.petersen@legis.iowa.gov

Sen. Tim Goodwin
tim.goodwin@legis.iowa.gov

You can also call the Senate switchboard at (515) 281-3371 to leave a message.

Thank you for your continued advocacy!

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Take Action and Oppose SSB 1125

A subcommittee meeting for SSB 1125 is scheduled for Monday, February 15, 2021 at 11:30am.

SSB 1125 is a bill in the Iowa Senate’s Commerce Committee. This is a bad bill that would create barriers for people accessing public assistance programs. At a time when too many Iowans are struggling to make ends meet, this bill is the last thing we need.

How You Can Take Action:

Senator Jason Schultz
jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov

Senator Liz Mathis
liz.mathis@legis.iowa.gov

Senator Zach Whiting
zach.whiting@legis.iowa.gov

More Information on SSB 1125

This bill would decrease access and kick people off the Food Assistance program by establishing an asset limit.

  • It would establish an asset limit for Food Assistance (SNAP) of $2,250 per household or $3,250 for elderly or disabled households. Households with more than one vehicle would be at risk of losing eligibility to Food Assistance benefits.

  • Having a vehicle can be the difference between finding employment or not, especially in rural areas of the state without public transit.

  • Asset limits have been shown to discourage people who are eligible from applying for SNAP, increase administrative costs, and discourage people from saving for emergencies.

This bill would require both custodial and non-custodial parents to cooperate with the child support recovery unit to receive Food Assistance.

  • There is no evidence this type of policy generates significantly more child support payments to custodial households.

  • There is not a way to implement this provision that does not result in taking food away from children.

  • Custodial parents may have an informal arrangement, be a victim of domestic violence, or have other reasons why they have chosen not to seek child support payments from a non-custodial parent.

  • Taking away Food Assistance benefits from a non-custodial parent who cannot afford to pay child support does nothing to improve the financial situation of that parent and their child.

  • The National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) opposed a measure in the 2018 Farm Bill that would require all states to implement cooperation requirements for SNAP.

This bill would create a computerized verification and authentication system for all public assistance programs to be administered by a third-party vendor.

  • The state already has a system in place for income and identity verification. This bill would provide a contract to a private third-party vendor to administer this process instead.

  • This is costly and unnecessary. Last year, LSA estimated that the bill would cost the state over $4.5 million per year to administer.

  • A recent study on SNAP recipients in California found that for every one ineligible household screened out by verification checks, three eligible households also left the program.

This bill would require applicants to complete a computerized identity authentication process in order to access public assistance benefits.

  • This presents a significant access barrier to many people, especially those without internet access, limited credit history, or limited English proficiency.

  • This violates federal USDA FNS regulations concerning identity authentication for Food Assistance.
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Speak Out Against SSB 1061

A subcommittee meeting for SSB 1061 is scheduled for today (Tuesday, January 26, 2021) at 2:00pm.

SSB 1061 is a bill in the Iowa Senate’s Labor & Business Relations Committee concerning electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards that could lead to profiling by law enforcement based on race and class.

We should be focusing on solutions to help people facing food insecurity in our state right now. Instead, this bill reinforces harmful myths about the Food Assistance/SNAP program and the people who participate in it.

Iowa’s criminal justice system has some of the greatest racial disparities in the nation, and this bill sends a message that counters the Governor’s focus on criminal justice reform.

How You Can Take Action Today:

Sen. Dennis Guth
dennis.guth@legis.iowa.gov

Sen. Pam Jochum
pam.jochum@legis.iowa.gov

Sen. Jeff Taylor
jeff.taylor@legis.iowa.gov

More Information on SSB 1061

This bill is a solution in search of a problem.

  • According to USDA, the prevalence of SNAP trafficking fraud is 1%.

  • Unauthorized possession of one EBT card, let alone three, is already defined as a “fraudulent practice” pursuant to Iowa code section 234.13.

  • “Fraudulent practice” can be a misdemeanor or felony, punishable with prison time, fines, and in the case of fraudulent practice related to the food assistance program, temporary suspension, up to a permanent ban from the Food Assistance program.

  • A law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe a person is in unauthorized possession of an EBT card can choose to make a report to the department of inspections and appeals (DIA).

  • DIA’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)/Program Integrity Unit conducts investigations related to the misuse and trafficking of EBT cards.

This bill could lead to profiling based on race and class.

  • Under this bill, law enforcement officers who have “probable cause” to believe an individual is in unauthorized possession of even one EBT card shall report both the person in possession of the card and person who is named on the card to the department of inspection and appeals. This bill does not define what would constitute “probable cause.”

  • There are a number of reasons that a person could legally be in possession of an EBT card that does not match the name on their ID.

  • This bill has the potential for racial bias and profiling of individuals by law enforcement officers. Iowa’s criminal justice system has some of the greatest racial disparities in the nation, and this bill sends a message that is counter-productive to the Governor’s focus on criminal justice reform.
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You’re Invited: Food Insecurity Advocacy Webinar on January 22

Advocacy Training: Fighting Hunger and Food Insecurity in Iowa

Friday, January 22, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Facebook Event

The number of people experiencing food insecurity across Iowa has increased dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while federal and state responses have proven effective at increasing access to food for many in our state, there is still work to be done.

Join the Iowa Hunger Coalition and other anti-hunger groups on Friday, January 22, from 12:00pm-1:00pm for an online advocacy training to get involved in the fight to end food insecurity in Iowa!

Register to Attend
Learn from groups working to address hunger and food insecurity in Iowa about:

  • the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hunger and food insecurity in our state
  • federal and state responses to food insecurity during the pandemic
  • basic information on nutrition programs such as Food Assistance (SNAP)
  • current legislative opportunities to address hunger and food insecurity in Iowa
  • how you can be an effective anti-hunger advocate

We hope you can join us in our fight to end hunger and food insecurity in Iowa.

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Tell Iowa’s Senators to Support a 15% Increase to SNAP

Contact your Senators today and tell them to support a 15% increase to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the next federal pandemic relief bill!

Since the pandemic began, we have seen hunger and food insecurity rise at an alarming rate. Hundreds of thousands of Iowans are being forced to make gut-wrenching decisions on a daily basis, such choosing between paying rent or buying groceries, filling a prescription or paying the utility bill. Racial inequities are deepening, and right now, there is no end in sight for the economic crisis many struggling Iowans are facing.

Increasing SNAP benefits by 15% would raise monthly Food Assistance (SNAP) benefits by $25 on average per person for the next two years.

While there have been some positive steps taken by the government, like the issuing of Emergency Allotments to provide the maximum benefit amount to all Food Assistance program enrollees, this measure has not increased benefits for Iowans struggling the most who were already receiving the maximum benefit. Increasing SNAP by 15% ensures everyone receiving assistance will see an increase in the amount of benefits they receive.

SNAP is smart for business, too, and helps support the economy. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, every $1 in SNAP benefits yields $1.54 in economic stimulus. Increasing SNAP is a smart, effective policy, and the best federal anti-hunger program we have in our tool belt.

In 2009, Congress passed a 15% increase to SNAP to respond to the Great Recession, and research has shown the increase helped keep nearly one million people out of poverty in 2010 alone.

Please tell your Senators to support a 15% increase to SNAP today!

Flyer and Social Media Graphics

Additional Resources