Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Heat and Eat Program - Study

SB 461 amends Maryland's Heat and Eat Program under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to require households seeking this benefit to include at least one elderly or disabled individual. This change directly affects households applying for the Heat and Eat Program, which provides expanded food access to SNAP-eligible households. The bill modifies Section 5-506 of the Maryland Annotated Code to add this eligibility requirement (subsection (c)(1)(II)) and specifies that a standard utility allowance ($21/year) will be applied to shelter deductions for SNAP eligibility. The policy change takes effect October 1, 2026, and aims to target assistance toward households with elderly or disabled members.