(The Center Square) – The Arizona Senate has passed four bills seeking to tackle waste, fraud and abuse in the state’s management of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The Senate last week passed Senate Bill 1002, SB 1331, SB 1333 and SB 1334, all by a vote of 17 to 13 along party lines. Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, introduced these bills, which were supported by Republicans and are now headed to the Arizona House. Republicans hold majorities in both chambers.
According to Kavanagh, SB 1002 is attempting to “root out fraud” in Arizona’s SNAP program.
To verify eligibility, the bill would authorize the Arizona Department of Economic Security to review multiple sources, including out-of-state food stamp activity, incarceration records, death records, child support data and lottery winnings records.
Kavanagh told The Center Square that Arizona’s SNAP payment error rate is “extremely high.” The Center Square reported Arizona’s payment error rate is around 10%.
If Arizona doesn’t get its SNAP payment error rate below 6% by fiscal year 2028, the state will pay between $150 million and $200 million, according to Glenn Farley, Common Sense Institute Arizona’s director of policy and research.
The amount Arizona may need to pay is the result of the federal government’s adjustments to SNAP operations under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Kavanagh said he does not think the Department of Economic Security is adequately verifying SNAP eligibility.
However, he said he is not blaming the department entirely because the agency was not provided with all the tools needed to verify people’s status.
The state senator added that the DES probably lacks sufficient staff to keep up with these potential changes, so he is seeking additional funding to address this.
SB 1331 adds a work requirement for individuals 60 or younger to receive food assistance. Exceptions include individuals who meet federal work registration requirements, caregivers, students and individuals in rehabilitation programs.
Another bill, SB 1333, aims to reduce Arizona’s SNAP payment error rate to below 3% by Dec. 30, 2030. Beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027, the state Legislature would need to submit quarterly reports on the status of reducing the state’s SNAP payment error rate. If Arizona fails to meet its annual target goals or the 3% mark, a corrective action plan would be required to explain why the goals were not met and how the issue will be addressed.
Regarding SNAP work requirements, SB 1334 proposes to limit the Department of Economic Security’s ability to waive them for able-bodied adults without dependents. The state agency wouldn’t be able to seek, renew or accept a federal waiver without Arizona law authorizing it or federal law requiring it.
Furthermore, the bill prevents the department from using Arizona’s option of issuing work requirement exemptions.
SB 1334 would shift the power for Arizona to seek SNAP work requirement exemptions from the executive branch to the legislative branch.
Kavanagh told The Center Square that it is important for the Legislature to have veto power over the executive branch because the executive branch does not control how Arizona taxpayers’ money is spent.
Every person who receives a work exemption costs the government more money, Kavanagh noted. “We have a duty to taxpayers to keep the budget within limits.”
When these four bills reach the state House, they will pass, Kavanagh said, adding that there is consensus behind the legislation.
Last year, Kavanagh noted he thought Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs would immediately veto these bills. However, he said that, given Arizona’s high SNAP payment error rate, which could cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars, he hopes she will sign them. The Republican majority in the Legislature lacks enough seats to override Hobbs’ vetoes.
