MarylandMaryland law limits Heat and Eat eligibility and requires a study
Maryland law limits Heat and Eat to SNAP households with an elderly or disabled member and requires a study of households affected by a 2025 federal law.
What it does
A household must include an elderly or disabled person to qualify for Heat and Eat. It must also qualify for SNAP.
The Department must study how the 2025 federal law affected Heat and Eat households, including changes to automatic eligibility and SNAP benefits.
Argument forThe study could show lawmakers which households lost automatic utility-cost help and how much their food benefits changed.
Argument againstHouseholds without an elderly or disabled member could lose access to Heat and Eat, even when they qualify for SNAP.
More detail
The law requires a household to include an elderly or disabled person to qualify for Heat and Eat. This rule applies to households seeking to join Maryland’s Heat and Eat Program. The household must also qualify for SNAP under state and federal law. The effective date is unclear because the printed date line contains conflicting wording.
The Department of Human Services must study affected households and report its findings and recommendations to two legislative committees. The study covers households affected by the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, including households that lost automatic eligibility or had SNAP benefits reduced. By December 1, 2026, the Department must report to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 685Became Law
- Apr 13Passed EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 13Third Reading PassedMajor
- Apr 13Senate Concurs House Amendments
- Apr 13Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Apr 9Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 9Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Apr 9Favorable with Amendments Report by AppropriationsMinor
- Mar 30
- Vote recorded On Third Reading (Amend). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 27
- Vote recorded Bill is on Third Reading for Final Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Hearing 3/31 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 27Referred AppropriationsMinor
- Feb 26Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Feb 24Second Reading Passed
- Feb 24Favorable AdoptedMinor
- Feb 23Favorable Report by FinanceMinor
- Feb 18
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 4Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 2First Reading FinanceIntroduced
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