Will Governor Abbott let millions lose SNAP off their Lone Star Card?
The Big Beautiful Bill, a massive federal budget proposal, is shaking up the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Texas.
If passed by the Senate, this bill could slash SNAP benefits, tighten eligibility, and burden Texas with new costs.
With over 3.3 million Texans relying on SNAP for food security, the stakes are high.
This article dives into how the Big Beautiful Bill impacts Texas SNAP, addresses concerns about illegal migrants on SNAP, and highlights what’s at risk for vulnerable communities.
Massive SNAP Cuts and Texas’s Burden
The Big Beautiful Bill proposes cutting $230-$300 billion from SNAP over a decade, a move to fund tax breaks for the wealthy.
For Texas, this could mean $95-$211 less per month for households, mirroring the pain of 2023’s emergency allotment cuts [USDA FNS].
Texas, home to 3.6 million SNAP recipients, faces a new 5% cost-sharing requirement, adding $500 million annually to state budgets [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities].
Strapped for cash, Texas might limit enrollment, making it harder for families to access food assistance.
Stricter Rules and Vulnerable Texans
The bill expands work requirements for SNAP recipients aged 18-64, targeting able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) and potentially older adults [Congressional Research Service].
In Texas, 44,000 recipients over 49 could lose benefits if they can’t meet 20-hour weekly work rules.
Eliminating Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility could kick thousands off SNAP, especially working families with modest savings [Food Research & Action Center].
Restrictions on purchases, like banning soda or chips, align with Texas’s own Senate Bill 379.
These changes hit hardest in areas like Texas’s 18th Congressional District, where SNAP participation is among the highest [U.S. Census Bureau].
Children, seniors, and disabled Texans—62% and 37% of SNAP households, respectively—face food insecurity risks.
Addressing Illegal Migrants on SNAP
Concerns about illegal migrants receiving SNAP are common but often misunderstood. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for SNAP under federal law [USDA FNS].
Only legal immigrants, like children under 18, veterans, or those with five years of legal residency, can qualify.
In Texas, mixed-status households—where some members are citizens or eligible non-citizens—may receive SNAP for qualifying members only.
The Big Beautiful Bill doesn’t directly target immigrant eligibility but could deter legal immigrants from applying due to stricter verification or fear of scrutiny, reducing access for citizen children in these homes [Migration Policy Institute].
.@SecRollins Talks Reining in Food Stamp Abuses
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) May 20, 2025
"$400 million of our taxpayer money is spent every day across our nutrition programs, just at USDA."
"It's rife with fraud… tens of millions of dollars that are being stolen, illegal aliens that are part of the system." pic.twitter.com/2738AvhQTd
Economic and Health Fallout
SNAP fuels Texas’s economy, generating $1.54-$1.79 per dollar spent [USDA Economic Research Service].
Cuts could hurt grocers, farmers, and communities, especially in rural Texas and urban food deserts.
Food insecurity spikes with SNAP reductions, driving up healthcare costs for conditions like diabetes [Health Affairs].
Texas’s senior food insecurity rate, already among the highest, could worsen, with only half of eligible seniors enrolled [National Council on Aging].
What’s Next for Texas SNAP?
The Big Beautiful Bill is headed to the United States Senate. Texas could seek federal waivers to ease work requirements, as done post-Hurricane Beryl [Texas HHSC].
But with administrative backlogs already delaying benefits, new rules could overwhelm the system [Texas Tribune].
Texans can stay informed via the Texas Health and Human Services Commission [HHSC] or USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service [FNS].
Advocacy groups like Feeding Texas urge residents to contact lawmakers to protect SNAP [Feeding Texas].
What you can buy with food stamps at Uber Eats
The Big Beautiful Bill threatens to reshape Texas SNAP, risking food security for millions. From benefit cuts to work requirements, the fallout could hit children, seniors, and working families hardest.
While illegal migrants don’t access SNAP, eligible immigrants may shy away, leaving citizen kids hungry.
Texas must brace for economic and health impacts—or fight to save SNAP.
Call to Action: Share this article to raise awareness about Texas SNAP and urge lawmakers to protect food assistance!