A bill for an act relating to the double up food bucks program, the supplemental nutrition assistance program and making appropriations and including effective date provisions.
HF 970 allocates $1 million for Iowa's Double Up Food Bucks program, which helps SNAP recipients buy fresh produce at farmers markets and grocery stores. It requires grant recipients to match funds dollar-for-dollar and ensures the funds remain available beyond the fiscal year. The bill also seeks federal approval to restrict SNAP-eligible foods to healthy items like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. This food eligibility change would take effect only after the USDA approves the modification. The program funding becomes effective upon federal approval of the food rules.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 20, 2025
Last action Feb 24, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Reprinted
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reprinted from its original introduced version to reflect amendments passed by the House. The most significant substantive change is the expansion of eligible foods in the SNAP program to include healthy beverages, not just healthy food items. The bill also clarifies that federal approval is required for the supplemental appropriation to take effect and adds language ensuring healthy food standards cannot be rescinded without new legislation.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include healthy beverages as eligible SNAP items when federal approval is obtained, and the contingent effective date provisions were clarified to require federal approval before the supplemental appropriation becomes active.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible foods under SNAP were expanded from only healthy food items to include healthy beverages based on necessary nutrition for good health.
ENFORCEMENT
Added language requiring that healthy food and beverage standards not be rescinded without enacting new legislation.
TIMELINE
Clarified that the supplemental appropriation for the Double Up Food Bucks program takes effect only upon receipt of federal approval to modify eligible foods.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the requirement from requesting a waiver to requesting federal approval for modification of eligible foods under state administration of SNAP.
Floor votes · House Mar 26, 2025
How they voted
57–40
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 101
Mar 26, 2025
D
Democratic33
96% Nay
R
Republican68
83% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
3
Committee
2
Amendments
5
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Costello, Donahue, and Warme.
upper
Jun 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 56, nays 40.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-1199 adopted.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced
Motion to suspend rules for immediate consideration of amendment H-1181, yeas 32, nays 63.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Introduced
Point of order raised on amendment H-1181, ruled not germane.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Amendment H-1199 filed.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Amendments H-1178 and H-1181 filed.
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on Appropriations calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HF 970
Scope: IA
Hi! I can help you understand HF 970. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline