119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3603


To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to improve the cost of living adjustment exclusion from income under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 8 (legislative day, January 7), 2026

Mr. Welch (for himself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Markey, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Schiff) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry


A BILL

To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to improve the cost of living adjustment exclusion from income under the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “COLAs Don’t Count Act of 2026”.

SEC. 2. Exclusion from income.

Section 5(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (12), by striking “July 1” and inserting “January 1”;

(2) in paragraph (18), by striking “and” at the end;

(3) by redesignating paragraph (19) as paragraph (20); and

(4) by inserting after paragraph (18) the following:

“(19) supplementary payments of the type described in section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1382e(a)); and”.

SEC. 3. Effective date.

This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2027.