New bill would restrict SNAP benefits in 9 states. Here’s what could be cut - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

A new bill from Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, would strip SNAP recipients in nine states of the option to buy hot meals from approved restaurants with their EBT cards.

The Restaurant Meals Program lets some SNAP beneficiaries, mostly elderly, disabled, or homeless people who struggle to cook fresh food, use their benefits at approved restaurants instead of just grocery stores. SNAP helps about 37 million Americans buy food nationwide. Gill's bill, introduced in the House this month, would eliminate that restaurant option entirely, restricting purchases back to standard grocery items.

The bill only applies to the nine states that currently offer the Restaurant Meals Program, and it's not yet clear if Texas is one of them based on available details. If Texas does fall under the bill's reach, it could matter a lot for anyone in Lubbock relying on SNAP who has a disability or can't easily prepare meals at home. Losing that option would push people back toward grocery-only shopping. That sounds simple until you consider mobility issues, lack of transportation to stores, or not having a working kitchen at all.

The bill is still moving through the House, so nothing is final yet. Whether it passes or not, it raises a bigger question: how many SNAP recipients actually need that restaurant flexibility to eat at all.