Committee approves Summer EBT revolving fund to reduce childhood summer hunger

Vice Chair Geis presented House Bill 3,638 to establish a Summer EBT revolving fund that can accept federal, state, municipal, nonprofit and private contributions to provide food support for children who lose access to reduced or free school meals over the summer. Geis said the PCS sets up a public‑private partnership and estimated the program could bring "over $50,000,000" in benefits and provide roughly a $120 summer stipend to eligible families.

Committee members asked how the program would interact with existing summer meal programs. Geis said Summer EBT supplements SNAP recipients and is administered by the Department of Human Services; recipients must qualify for SNAP and the Summer EBT stipend would supplement benefits while school is out. Geis described the program as a stable, structured way to ensure children are eating over the summer and noted local grocery stores could see economic benefit from the program.

Questions also touched on administration and fiscal effects. The transcript notes that the fiscal statement listed "about $26,000,000 for the administrative cost" related to federal/state matching changes; committee discussion clarified that the PCS establishes the fund and does not itself appropriate a specific amount. The committee voted 5–0 to pass the PCS for HB 3,638 out of committee.

What happens next: Sponsor encouraged public support and outreach; the PCS will move forward for further legislative action and budget negotiations.