The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is essential to addressing food insecurity, but thousands of Nebraskans will lose access to benefits on Oct. 1, 2025, if the Nebraska Legislature does not act. Legislative Bill (LB) 192, introduced by Sen. Dan Quick, would maintain the current income eligibility level for SNAP, ensuring continued food access for an estimated 10,000 Nebraskans.
In 2021, the Nebraska Legislature raised SNAP eligibility from 130% to 165% of the federal poverty level. The raise was initially intended to be temporary, in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the four years since, while the pandemic has subsided, cost of living and grocery prices have only continued to rise. Food banks across Nebraska report that the number of families they serve has never returned to pre-pandemic levels, and a growing number of people are seeking assistance for the first time.
Without SNAP benefits, families already struggling with hunger will face impossible choices about where to make up those dollars in their budget. Other bills will be left unpaid, vehicles will go unrepaired, and children will miss out on activities that become too expensive.
Beyond helping families afford basic groceries, SNAP strengthens Nebraska’s rural economy. There is a ripple effect from SNAP dollars that support jobs at every stage of the food supply chain—from farming and processing to labor and distribution, and finally in retail stores. This financial “multiplier effect” has a greater impact on rural economies like Nebraska’s where agriculture and food production are key industries.
LB 192 has advanced to general file, the first of three stages of legislative debate. We urge lawmakers to pass LB 192 and protect access to SNAP benefits for thousands of Nebraskans.
