House appropriations staff told the committee that provisions in House and Senate reconciliation texts — on SNAP cost-sharing, provider assessments, and Medicaid eligibility rules — could increase annual state costs by several hundred million dollars and impose major administrative demands.

Kyle Ross presented example calculations tying Virginia's 2023 SNAP error rate (9.86%) to a potential 10% benefit cost share (~$176M/year) and described an additional ~ $88M/year in administrative costs states would incur under the Senate proposal.

Commissioner Williams told the committee federal proposals on SNAP could require Virginia to cover a substantial share of benefits and raise administrative costs to 75%, producing state exposure that depending on final congressional language could range from roughly $360 million (Senate scenario) to as much as $540 million (House scenario). He also said LIHEAP elimination would remove assistance for many households.

JLARC identified near‑term AI opportunities to modernize 865 state applications (344 urgent) and urged an expedited review process for AI coding tools; the report says Virginia could face roughly $270 million annually beginning FY28 if SNAP payment errors remain at FY24 levels.

The secretary said Virginia has experienced substantial SNAP losses and that a high SNAP payment error rate (discussed around 9%) could trigger state liability and loss of federal matching funds; staff noted measurement begins Sept. 30, 2025 and that administrative reform is under way.

President Donald Trump's administration is demanding that states reverse full SNAP benefits issued under recent court orders.

Virginia’s state emergency program (VENA) is issuing weekly food benefits to October SNAP recipients while the federal shutdown persists, but city staff warned that prolonged federal closure could put reimbursements at risk. Petersburg staff said local SNAP recipients should receive weekly allotments and officials discussed creating a city food-

City staff briefed council on the impact of the federal government shutdown on SNAP benefits and described the Commonwealths emergency distribution plan. Staff proposed local mitigation including a $150,000 contribution to the food bank, partnerships with Thrive and United Way, and consideration of no-interest furlough loans using ARPA funds.

Human services staff summarized state and city contingency plans for SNAP and other entitlement programs and council discussed short-term relief options including food bank support and targeted assistance funds for furloughed employees.

DSS deputies told the committee the federal law (HR 1) tightens SNAP eligibility, shifts administrative matching costs to states beginning Oct. 1, 2026, and could require a state match for benefits based on a payment-error rate beginning Oct. 1, 2027. Virginia’s current quality-control error rate is 11.5%; officials aim to reduce it below 6% to av­