Food Assistance & Bridge Card Program

Current understanding

Michigan’s Food Assistance Program delivers SNAP benefits to eligible residents via the Bridge Card, an EBT card issued under the Social Welfare Act (1939 PA 280). Legislative activity in this area focuses on card security features, fraud prevention, and administrative requirements for recipients and retailers.

Evidence log

• 2026-07-22 — Human services: food assistance; chip-enabled bridge card; require. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 14n.: 2026 — HB4746 (PA 46’26, enacted) adds sec. 14n to 1939 PA 280 requiring chip-enabled Michigan Bridge Cards for food assistance, an operational security upgrade to EBT card issuance. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-03 — Human services: food assistance; monitoring and tracking out-of-state use of the Michigan bridge card; require. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 14n.: HB6013 (passed chamber) would add sec. 14n to 1939 PA 280 requiring monitoring and tracking of out-of-state use of the Michigan Bridge Card under the food assistance program. (novelty: 2) (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-03 — Human services: food assistance; authorization for waiver of work requirements for SNAP benefits; require. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 14o.: HB5812 (passed chamber) would add sec. 14o to 1939 PA 280 requiring authorization for any waiver of SNAP work requirements in Michigan. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-23 — Human services: food assistance; documentation requirements for certain assistance programs; provide for. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 10h.: HB5145 (passed chamber) would add sec. 10h to 1939 PA 280 imposing documentation requirements for certain assistance programs, including food assistance. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-07-02 — Human services: food assistance; certain data of individuals who receive SNAP benefits; require to be shared with certain governmental agencies. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 10i.: SB1088 (introduced) would add sec. 10i to 1939 PA 280 requiring certain SNAP recipient data to be shared with specified governmental agencies. (novelty: 2)
• 2025-09-17 — Human services: food assistance; recipient’s digital photographic image and signature printed on the Michigan bridge card; require. Amends 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.1 - 400.119b) by adding sec. 14k.: HB4515 (passed chamber) would add sec. 14k to 1939 PA 280 requiring recipients’ digital photographic image and signature to be printed on Michigan Bridge Cards used for food assistance. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

Related