STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Arizona House Republicans will continue their implementation of federal reforms under H.R. 1 on Monday as the House Health and Human Services Committee meets to advance legislation focused on strengthening the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, reducing payment error rates, and ensuring benefits are reserved for qualified Arizonans.

The committee, chaired by State Representative Selina Bliss, will meet Monday, February 2, at 2:00 p.m. in HHR 4 to pass a package of bills aligning Arizona law with H.R. 1’s SNAP reforms. The measures target eligibility verification, work requirements, waiver accountability, and oversight of improper payments.

A livestream of the meeting will be available at:

https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2026021003

“SNAP should be a hand up, not a blank check,” said House Majority Leader Michael Carbone. “When benefits flow to people who no longer qualify or who do not even live here, the program is weakened for families who truly need help. These bills tighten eligibility, reinforce work expectations, and protect taxpayers while keeping SNAP available for the vulnerable.”

The committee will consider the following legislation:

H.R. 1 SNAP Bills

• HB 2442 (Lopez) – SNAP; mandatory employment and training
• HB 2448 (Lopez) – SNAP; work requirement waivers; exemptions
• HB 2206 (Kupper) – SNAP; error rate; forensic audit
• HB 2797 (Carbone) – SNAP; TANF; public welfare; verification

Additional related measures include:

• HB 2690 (Heap) – unemployment benefits; requirements; determinations
• HB 2688 (Heap) – budget unit; vacant positions; reporting

The primary SNAP reform bill, HB 2797, strengthens eligibility enforcement by requiring regular data checks across state and federal systems to confirm income, employment status, incarceration, deaths, and residency. The bill flags excessive out of state EBT use, identifies households with large gambling winnings, and requires fraud cases to be referred to the appropriate U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Polling shows strong voter support for these reforms, including 78 percent support for using existing data to verify eligibility and 73 percent support for requiring able bodied adults to work, train, volunteer, or pursue education to receive SNAP benefits, with reasonable exemptions.

“If someone is collecting benefits while living out of state or sitting on gambling winnings, that is not compassion, it is negligence,” Majority Leader Carbone said. “HB 2797 closes loopholes and establishes straightforward verification so benefits reflect current income, work status, and residency.”

Other measures advance H.R. 1’s expanded work requirements, limit backdoor waivers unless approved by the Legislature, and require the Department of Economic Security to reduce the SNAP payment error rate to 3 percent. According to legislative budget estimates, reaching that target would save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars annually and reduce Arizona’s exposure to federal cost sharing penalties.

“H.R. 1 made it clear that work expectations and eligibility rules matter again,” Chairman Bliss said. “Our SNAP reforms reinforce responsibility while protecting parents, seniors, and the disabled. This package keeps the program strong so it can continue serving families who qualify and rely on it.”

Failure to act would leave Arizona exposed to federal penalties tied to high error rates and improper payments under H.R. 1, shifting costs onto state taxpayers and weakening the program’s long-term stability.

The committee meeting is open to the public, and Arizonans are encouraged to watch and follow the discussion live online.