POLISCOPE
Back to feed
Part ofSnap →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.
FEDERALcongressional record
High Impact

Proposed Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act of 2026

Original title: Text of Senate Amendment 6196

Record date · June 24, 2026

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

What This Bill Does

This Senate amendment proposes new federal requirements to improve the security of SNAP cards by mandating technology and stricter digital security standards. It also establishes a grant program to help retailers upgrade their payment terminals and sets new timelines for states to replace magnetic-stripe cards.

Why it matters

If enacted, this amendment would require all SNAP recipients to transition to cards within five years and mandate that states provide replacement cards within five business days for lost, stolen, or damaged cards.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

SNAP recipients

Recipients will receive new chip-enabled EBT cards and gain access to enhanced digital transaction monitoring and faster card replacement services.

Directly affected

State agencies

States must update their EBT systems, issue new cards, and provide specific digital user interfaces, with costs reimbursed by the federal government.

Directly affected

Retail food stores

Retailers must upgrade to chip-enabled payment terminals to continue participating in the SNAP program.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to pay for a new chip-enabled EBT card?
No, the amendment provides for full federal reimbursement to states for the costs of upgrading cards, and prohibits states from charging fees for replacements due to fraud, theft, or mandatory compliance.
How quickly must a state replace my lost or stolen EBT card?
Under the proposed rules, states must issue a replacement card within 5 business days of receiving your request.
Do retailers have to upgrade their card machines?
Yes, retail food stores will be required to have payment terminals within 180 days after the final regulations are established, with federal grants available to assist eligible entities.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Mandatory Chip Transition

The amendment marks a definitive shift from magnetic-stripe technology to chip-based security for all federal food assistance benefits.

Department of Agriculture

Connected Entities

Mr. Justice, Ron Wyden, Department of Agriculture and 6 more
PersonMr. Justice“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
PersonRon Wyden“Lead sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Agriculture“Responsible for implementing SNAP cybersecurity regulations.”Map →
PersonMr. Fetterman“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
PersonMr. McCormick“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
PersonBill Cassidy“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
PersonMrs. Britt“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
PersonCory Booker“Co-sponsor of the amendment.”Map →
OrganizationGovernment Accountability Office“Required to submit a report on EBT security risks.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record