Alabama seeks two‑year SNAP penalty delay as analysis shows over 1 million children lose benefits nationwide

Alabama officials asked the federal government to postpone for two years the $174 million penalty imposed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) for a high SNAP error rate. State SNAP Director Brandon Hardin said the FY 2025 error rate was 9.52%, and the penalty would begin on Oct. 1 2027 unless the FY 2026 rate falls below 7.99%.

A separate analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that since OBBBA took effect in July 2025, more than 1.06 million children in 19 states have lost SNAP benefits, accounting for about 44 % of the total enrollment decline. Texas recorded the largest loss with 317,316 children, while Arizona, California and Louisiana also saw steep reductions.

Both reports highlight the widespread impact of the new federal food‑assistance rules on state budgets and vulnerable families.