S. 3132: Emergency Relief for Hungry Families Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Emergency Relief for Hungry Families Act of 2025, proposes amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, specifically regarding how food discounts can be applied during government shutdowns. The key provisions of the bill are as follows:

Exemption from Equal Treatment Requirement

The bill introduces an exemption that allows authorized retail food stores to offer incentives, such as discounts or promotions, during a government shutdown without violating the equal treatment requirement. This requirement usually mandates that all participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) receive equal treatment in terms of benefits and prices.

Definition of Covered Period

The term "covered period" is defined in the bill as the time when:

• Funding appropriations for the Department of Agriculture have lapsed, and
• SNAP participants are either not receiving any benefits or are not receiving the full amount of benefits.

Waiver for Discounts

During this covered period, authorized retail food stores are allowed to offer discounts or other incentives without needing to go through a waiver process. This means they can implement these changes immediately to provide assistance to families in need, particularly when government funding is unavailable.

Compliance with Regulations

The incentives offered by the retail stores during the covered period will not be counted as a violation of existing regulations regarding equal treatment. This clarifies that even with discounts, stores comply with federal laws during these financial crises.

Overall Impact

The aim of the bill is to ensure that families relying on SNAP assistance have increased access to food and can benefit from discounts without the barriers that typically apply. The bill seeks to address food insecurity that can arise during government shutdowns.

Relevant Companies

• WMT - Walmart Inc.: As one of the largest grocery chains in the U.S., Walmart may see changes in customer behavior and sales if discounts become more prevalent for SNAP purchases during government shutdowns.
• PG - Procter & Gamble Co.: While primarily a consumer goods company, Procter & Gamble products are often sold in grocery stores that participate in SNAP, and changes in SNAP policies may impact overall sales.
• COST - Costco Wholesale Corp.: As a major retailer for food and household items, Costco may also adjust its pricing strategies based on SNAP policies and could experience changes in customer purchasing patterns during covered periods.