4 Pages • Read Time 8 Minutes

Policy explainer: Federal health policy impact on Ohio

SNAP at a glance: Key changes from HR 1

Snappaper1

Access to healthy food is a major contributor to overall health. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) combats food insecurity by providing individuals and families with financial support to purchase food. In Ohio, families use SNAP benefits to buy food at more than 9,964 authorized retailers, and those purchases also support the broader economy, with the USDA estimating that every $1 in SNAP benefits generates up to $1.50 in economic activity.

The federal reconciliation bill known as HR 1 or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which was enacted in July 2025, made substantial changes to SNAP that will affect eligibility for the program, as well as how Ohio and other states administer it.

Major changes include:

  • Changes to work requirements
  • Changes to eligibility based on immigration status
  • Changes to funding
 

3 Key takeaways

  • SNAP enables over 1.4 million Ohioans to meet their basic food needs and supports local economies by generating up to $1.50 in economic activity for every $1 in benefits spent.
  • HR 1’s SNAP eligibility restrictions and expanded work requirements are expected to negatively impact the ability of Ohioans to access healthy food.
  • Ohio’s share of SNAP costs is projected to rise 268%, from $146 million to nearly $540 million, due to provisions in HR 1 that shift more administrative and benefit costs onto states.
 

Resources

For more information about changes to SNAP from HR 1, see the following resources:

 

By:

Brian O’Rourke, PhD

Robin Blair-Ackison, MPH

Published On

February 20, 2026

Download Publication

Focus Areas

Attend HPIO's 2026 Health Policy Summit on Aug. 26

The Summit will draw insights from HPIO’s 2026 Health Value Dashboard to focus attention on the factors that drive population health and healthcare spending and build momentum for policy priorities that lead to improved health and well-being for Ohioans.

Register now