Kentucky’s House Bill 367 Raises Concerns Over SNAP Eligibility Criteria
Stalled Legislation Puts SNAP Recipients and Farmers at Odds
According to WKMS a bill called House Bill 367 in Kentucky is worrying farmers and advocates because it wants to make it harder for people to get help from SNAP a program that helps people buy food. Right now the bill is stuck in the Kentucky Senate. If it becomes law it would let the Kentucky Legislature decide who can get waivers to not work for SNAP assistance and benefits. This could affect a lot of people who rely on SNAP assistance to get by.
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(PHOTO:
Fidelis Care)House Bill 367 Threatens SNAP Assistance of Kentucky Farmers and Advocates: Impacting Local Economy and Food Access
SNAP and Farmers Markets
Kimberly Ishmael, who works with the Community Farm Alliance talked about how SNAP assistance and benefits are linked to farmers markets. These markets are really important for new and small farmers. Many of the people who come to these markets use SNAP assistance to buy food. If SNAP assistance gets harder to get it could hurt these farmers and make it tough for people to find fresh food in some areas. This bill is still being looked at but it’s important to think about how it could affect farmers and communities. Farmers already struggle with money especially when their income depends on the season. They rely on programs like SNAP assistance to help them make ends meet. This debate about House Bill 367 shows why it’s crucial for lawmakers to think about how their decisions could impact people’s lives and the local economy.
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