Pennsylvania lawmakers are moving to strengthen protections for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients after the state House unanimously approved legislation that would replace traditional magnetic-stripe EBT cards with more secure chip-enabled cards.
Supporters of House Bill 2540 say the upgrade would help combat a growing problem of benefit theft through card skimming and cloning, which has cost Pennsylvania recipients millions of dollars in recent years.
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Dan Williams, now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate for committee consideration and a possible floor vote before it can be sent to Gov. Josh Shapiro for approval.
The legislation comes as state officials report a significant increase in SNAP fraud. According to Pennsylvania’s Office of State Inspector General, more than $15 million in SNAP benefits were stolen through skimming schemes in 2024.
Skimming occurs when criminals secretly capture card information from payment terminals and then create counterfeit cards to access benefits. Unlike chip-enabled cards, magnetic-stripe cards are easier to clone and are considered more vulnerable to fraud.
Advocates say the theft can have devastating consequences for families that depend on SNAP assistance to buy groceries. In one recent case highlighted by supporters of the bill, a Pennsylvania mother reported that nearly all of her family’s monthly food benefits disappeared through unauthorized transactions conducted in multiple states within minutes.
Williams said the legislation is intended to provide an additional layer of security and help ensure food assistance reaches the families who need it rather than criminals.
If enacted, Pennsylvania would join a growing number of states adopting chip technology for EBT cards in response to increasing reports of benefit theft nationwide.
While the legislation advances through the Senate, state officials continue to encourage SNAP recipients to take steps to protect their accounts. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services recommends changing EBT card PINs regularly, monitoring account activity, reporting suspected fraud promptly and enrolling in department text alerts that may provide warnings about increased scam activity.
No Senate action on the bill has been scheduled yet. The measure must first be approved by a Senate committee before it can be considered by the full chamber.
The proposed upgrade could provide an important safeguard against a crime that often leaves vulnerable families without money for food.
Source: NBC 10