Food assistance/state prg.

AN ACT Relating to maintaining food assistance for certain 1
individuals including seniors, youth who have been involved in the 2
foster system, veterans, certain families, and other vulnerable 3
populations affected by increased federal eligibility requirements; 4
amending RCW 74.08A.120; and declaring an emergency.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
Sec. 1. RCW 74.08A.120 and 2020 c 136 s 2 are each amended to 7
read as follows: 8
(1) The department may establish a state food assistance program 9
for ((legal immigrants and victims of human trafficking as defined in 10
RCW 74.04.005 who are ineligible for the federal food stamp program.11
(2) The rules for the state food assistance program shall follow 12
exactly the rules of the federal food stamp program except for the 13
provisions pertaining to immigrant status.14
(3))) persons meeting the criteria in subsection (2) of this 15
section. The rules for the state food assistance program shall follow 16
exactly the rules of the federal food stamp program except for the 17
provisions pertaining to immigrant status and the exemptions to work 18
requirements as provided in this section. No person who is receiving 19
benefits from the federal food stamp program may simultaneously 20
receive state food assistance program benefits.21
H-2546.1
HOUSE BILL 2450
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Couture, Marshall, Keaton, Schmidt, Jacobsen,
Schmick, Connors, Barkis, and Griffey
Read first time 01/13/26. Referred to Committee on Early Learning &
Human Services.
p. 1 HB 2450
(2) A person is eligible for the state food assistance program 1
when they meet either of the following criteria:2
(a) The person is a legal immigrant or victim of human 3
trafficking as defined in RCW 74.04.005 who is ineligible for the 4
federal food stamp program only because of their alien status; or5
(b) The person:6
(i) Was disqualified from the federal food stamp program solely 7
because of nonparticipation in the work requirements for able-bodied 8
adults without dependents;9
(ii) Does not qualify for an exemption from the federal food 10
stamp program work requirements, and:11
(iii)(A) Is homeless;12
(B) Is age 24 or younger, and:13
(I) Was in foster care at the time of their 18th birthday; or14
(II) Has received extended foster care services as defined in 15
RCW 74.13.020;16
(C) Is a veteran;17
(D) Is age 55 or older; or18
(E) Is an adult in a basic food assistance unit that has a family 19
member who is under the age of 18.20
(3) Benefits under the state food assistance program for persons 21
meeting the criteria in subsection (2)(b) of this section, and who do 22
not meet the criteria under subsection (2)(a) of this section, are 23
limited to the portion of the state's 36-month work requirement time 24
limit period for able-bodied adults without dependents that remains 25
following disqualification from the federal food stamp program, and 26
are not available during any period of time that the person has 27
regained eligibility for the federal food stamp program.28
(4) A person is not required to meet work requirements to receive 29
state food assistance program benefits if the person:30
(a) Meets the criteria in subsection (2)(a) of this section and 31
one or more of the criteria in subsection (2)(b)(iii) of this 32
section; or33
(b) Meets the criteria in subsection (2)(b) of this section.34
(5) The department shall adopt rules creating exemptions to the 35
work requirements for the categories identified in subsection 36
(2)(b)(iii) of this section in accordance with subsections (3) and 37
(4) of this section.38
(6) The benefit under the state food assistance program shall be 39
established by the legislature in the biennial operating budget.40
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(((4))) (7) The department may enter into a contract with the 1
United States department of agriculture to use the existing federal 2
food stamp program coupon system for the purposes of administering 3
the state food assistance program. 4
(((5))) (8) In the event the department is unable to enter into a 5
contract with the United States department of agriculture, the 6
department may issue vouchers to eligible households for the purchase 7
of eligible foods at participating retailers. 8
(9) For purposes of this section:9
(a) "Homeless" means an individual who:10
(i) Does not have or will imminently lose their nighttime 11
residence; or12
(ii) Stays primarily in a:13
(A) Supervised shelter that provides temporary living or sleeping 14
quarters;15
(B) Halfway house that provides a temporary residence for persons 16
going into or coming out of an institution;17
(C) Residence of another person that is temporary and the 18
individual receiving or seeking benefits has lived there for 90 days 19
or less; or20
(D) Place not usually used as sleeping quarters for humans.21
(b) "Veteran" means as an individual who, regardless of the 22
conditions of their discharge or release from, served in the United 23
States armed forces, including an individual who served in a reserve 24
component of the armed forces, or served as a commissioned officer of 25
the public health service, the environmental science services 26
administration, or the national oceanic and atmospheric 27
administration.28
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate 29
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 30
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 31
effect immediately.32
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p. 3 HB 2450