H.R. 7522 — Improving Access to Nutrition Act of 2026

This section states congressional findings on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including that (1) SNAP improves health, reduces poverty, advances children's education, and generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity per $1 in benefits during downturns; (2) work requirements do not reduce poverty, risk benefit loss for 6.1 million individuals (including those with school-aged children, health impediments, Black Americans, and homeless families), increase administrative burdens, and reduce program participation.

This section eliminates the work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—which limits such individuals aged 18-52 to three months of benefits in a 36-month period unless they work or train at least 20 hours per week, comply with work registration, or live in a waiver area—by striking subsection (o) of Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) and all cross-references to it. The section further terminates additional SNAP employment and training (E&T) program allocations for states that ensure work opportunities by striking Section 16(h)(1)(E) of the Food and Nutrition Act (7 U.S.C. 2025(h)(1)(E))—which provided such states 200% of their share of allocated E&T funds—and makes conforming technical amendments to Sections 7 and 16 to remove obsolete references.

This section makes conforming amendments to (1) strike specified language from the definition of qualified family member—a targeted group eligible for the work opportunity tax credit (i.e., a tax credit equal to 40% of qualified first-year wages, up to $6,000 per eligible employee)—under section 51 of the Internal Revenue Code, and (2) eliminate cross-references to qualified family members from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

This section establishes an effective date for the Act and its amendments of 180 days after enactment, with exceptions: (1) amendments made by section 2 do not apply to allotments issued under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (i.e., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allotments) before such date; and (2) amendments made by section 3(a) do not apply to individuals hired before the end of the 90-day period beginning on such date.