The Senate parliamentarian appears to have signed off on a revised GOP plan to require states to help pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits based on their error rates, preserving a key cost-saving measure in the Republican budget reconciliation plan.

The revision altered the way the state error rates are used in determining whether states are hit with the cost-share requirement. The parliamentarian "signaled" to GOP leadership that the change would comply with Senate budget reconciliation rules, an aide said. 

 Even with the change, the requirement would still cut the cost of SNAP by $41 billion over 10 years, according to committee staff.

“This paves the way for important reforms that improve efficiency and management of SNAP   while encouraging responsible use of taxpayer dollars,” Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., said in a statement.

“In 2023 alone, over $10 billion was misspent when administering this program – underscoring the need for stronger accountability. Our commonsense approach encourages states to adopt better practices, reduce error rates, be better stewards of taxpayer dollars, and prioritize the resources for those who truly need it.” 

Cuts to SNAP in the Senate version of the reconciliation bill would save an estimated $211 billion over 10 years, $67 billion of which is to be used to increase spending on farm bill programs.

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The parliamentarian had earlier ruled that the provision violated the Byrd rule, which restricts the kinds of provisions that can be included in a reconciliation bill and pass the Senate with a simple majority vote. 

The parliamentarian also ruled against a provision ending benefits to immigrants who don’t have permanent residency or citizenship.

Also ruled out was a provision to suspend permanent price support authority, which is routinely included with farm bills to discourage future Congresses from allowing authority for commodity programs to lapse.

Boozman told Agri-Pulse lawmakers would likely include the permanent law suspension in a one-year extension of 2018 farm bill provisions later this year.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Axios he expects the Senate to start voting on the budget reconciliation bill Friday.

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