CalFresh Updates: HR-1 Implementation Timeline
- Feb 20
- 3 min read
Friday, February 20th, 2026
Photo Credits: FARSB
CalFresh is California's name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the state, and some major changes are coming to the program within the next year. Whether you're a recipient or an organization assisting folks who are, then keeping up with these changes is imperative for dealing with the impact on our neighbors.
With the implementation of HR1 - the One Big Beautiful Bill - changes to the federal program will be taking place at different points over the next few years. Here is the breakdown of what we know now and when to look out for updates regarding future changes.
Shifting SNAP Costs
States will begin to pay for up to 75% of annual administrative costs for the program. The estimated loss in funds for the state of California would be up to $685 million. This cost shift will be shouldered by the state and counties.
Implementation Date: October 1st, 2026
Expanding Time Limits
The expansion of work time limits on adults who are veterans, former foster youth, experiencing homelessness, ages 55-64, and caregivers of children 13 or older could result in lost benefits if they do not meet an exception or work at least 20 hours per week. Starting June 1st, new applicants will be screened for a time limit exemption.
If an applicant doesn’t meet an exemption, they will be limited to getting CalFresh benefits for only 3 months until January 2029. Ongoing CalFresh recipients will be screened for a time limit exemption during their recertification. The earliest a person will lose CalFresh benefits due to the time limit is September 2026 if no exemptions can be applied.
Implementation Date: June 1st, 2026
Eliminating Legal Immigrant Eligibility
Lawfully present noncitizens such as asylum seekers, refugees, parolees, and trafficking victims will no longer be eligible for SNAP/CalFresh. Starting April 1, new applicants must meet the updated noncitizen eligibility criteria. For ongoing CalFresh recipients, noncitizen household members will be screened at recertification. If they don’t have an eligible noncitizen status, they may lose eligibility. This is expected to impact up to 72,000 Californians with an estimated loss of $133 million annually. No one should lose their CalFresh before May 2026.
Implementation Date: April 1st, 2026
Restriction on Time Limit Waivers
H.R. 1 makes it more difficult for California to qualify for statewide or local waivers, meaning more people will be subject to the time limit rules. Now, states may only request waivers when the unemployment rate meets or exceeds 10 percent in an area. Before H.R. 1, the state could request a waiver when the unemployment rate was 20% higher than the national unemployment rate.
Implementation Date: February 1st, 2026
*Alpine, Colusa, Imperial, Merced, Monterey, Plumas, and Tulare counties' waivers remain until October 31, 2026.
Benefit Cost Shift to States
Right now, the SNAP/CalFresh benefits that people use to buy groceries are 100% federally funded. This change requires states to pay a portion of the annual benefit costs if they have a payment error rate of 6% or higher. Higher error rates will result in the state bearing the cost of a larger portion of the annual cost.
Implementation Date: October 1st, 2027
Effective As of 2025
Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) Restrictions
The TFP allowed benefit adjustments with rising food costs, ensuring benefits were adequate for families' needs. Benefits will decrease over time, with future revisions being cost-neutral, rendering benefits less effective against rising costs.
Effective Date: October 1st, 2025
SNAP-Ed Program Elimination
Families qualifying for CalFresh will no longer be connected to educational resources or services to mitigate obesity through nutrition education. This budget loss amounts to $132 million annually.
Effective Date: October 1st, 2025
Restrict the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA)
This restricts the maximum deduction from the benefit calculation for utility expenses to households with seniors and disabled individuals, reducing or eliminating benefits for over 450,000 people.
Effective Date: October 31st, 2025
These sweeping changes could cause a total loss of benefits for over 754,000 people, with 3 million seeing a reduction in benefits. California is not the only state affected by such changes, but residents may see a higher cost-burden due to high population and inflated error rates.
Being aware of these changes and staying updated on the timeline will help all food banks, pantry partners, and nonprofit organizations prepare for the rise in need we're likely to see within the coming years.
If you'd like to learn more about FARSB's advocacy work, please visit: www.FeedingIE.org/advocate
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