H.R. 3700 — MEALS Act of 2025

This section establishes fraud prevention requirements for the summer electronic benefit transfer (Summer EBT) program, which provides eligible households $40 per child per month (adjusted annually for food cost changes) to purchase food during summer months when school is not in session. Specifically, the section directs the Secretary of Agriculture to (1) issue ongoing guidance and promulgate regulations requiring participating state agencies and covered Indian Tribal organizations to implement security measures against theft of Summer EBT benefits through card skimming, cloning, and similar methods, consistent with industry standards and considering cost and feasibility; (2) within one year of enactment, promulgate regulations (including an interim final rule) requiring procedures for replacing stolen benefits using appropriated funds, with participating entities required to include replacement plans in their operational plans that cover claim submission and validation (including signed household statements), documentation, data reporting to the Secretary, and appeals; (3) coordinate with federal, state, tribal, retail, and EBT contractor entities to identify theft methods and locations, establish prevention measures (including equipment enhancements for retailers), and create standard data reporting; and (4) within two years of enactment, submit a report to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce detailing theft frequency and locations, coordination outcomes, industry standards, state/tribal plan comparisons, and agency actions taken or planned.