Proposed SNAP changes could impact QSR sales in 9 states

An article in Newsweek is reporting that a proposed Republican bill would eliminate the ability of SNAP recipients to use their benefits at participating quick service restaurant chains under the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).

The bill, introduced by Texas Rep. Brandon Gill, would affect the nine states currently operating an RMP: Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia, according to the article. Participating restaurant chains include McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, along with independent restaurants.

The RMP is designed for certain SNAP recipients who may not be able to prepare or store food themselves, including people who are elderly, disabled or experiencing homelessness. The proposal would eliminate the restaurant exception while preserving some meal programs operated by qualifying public and nonprofit organizations.

The proposal comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten SNAP restrictions under its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.

The proposed restaurant ban could have a meaningful impact on quick service restaurants as Republican lawmakers say more than $524 million in SNAP benefits were redeemed at RMP-authorized restaurants between June 2023 and May 2025. California accounted for approximately $475 million of that spending, followed by Arizona at $41.4 million and New York at $3.6 million.