What to know about DSHS benefits and H.R. 1 federal legislation
Monday, 09/22/2025
In July 2025, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law federal legislation known as H.R. 1. It will deeply impact public benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits and Medicaid, which Washington state calls Apple Health.
Nearly 1 million people across our state receive SNAP food benefits. That includes children, adults, people age 65 and older, immigrants, and people with disabilities, among others.
As the Department of Social and Health Services analyzes the impacts of H.R. 1, we are partnering with other state agencies and government officials to ensure we implement these new federal requirements while we provide support, case management and resources in ways that prioritize caring for the people we serve.
DSHS has not yet made any changes to existing SNAP eligibility requirements
We anticipate that major changes to the program will need to be implemented, and work is happening to make these changes as soon as possible.
DSHS has recently received some federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service and is actively analyzing that guidance. We also need to update our systems to make these changes. Some of the changes will not be possible without corresponding system changes.
We are being proactive
Since the bill was first proposed, DSHS and other state agencies have been analyzing and sharing the effects on SNAP and other programs. We are keeping state and federal lawmakers and other impacted groups informed.
We are looking at the federal legislation to learn:
- The impacts to DSHS customers and their SNAP benefits.
- The timeline for those impacts and changes to take place.
- What Washington needs to do to comply with the federal requirements.
We will continue to communicate with you
We will communicate any changes to eligibility and other benefits impacts as soon and as often as possible. Meantime, you can:
- Keep your DSHS contact information up to date.
- Ask DSHS about your benefits.
LINKS
- H. R. 1 impacts on Washington state people and budget (Office of Financial Management)
- H. R. 1 effects fact sheet (DSHS - updated 9/25/2025)
- What to know about federal Medicaid legislation (Health Care Authority)
- H. R. 1 Infographic - Coming Soon (developed by Washington Economic Justice Alliance)