SNAP cybersecurity draws attention in both Ohio legislative chambers

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Efforts are underway in both chambers of the Ohio Legislature to make it harder for scammers to steal money from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.

While Senators Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) have introduced Senate Bill 315, in the House of Representatives, Reps. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) and Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) are sponsoring House Bill 163. 

Both bills target the same issue—the magnetic strip EBT cards currently used by Ohio SNAP beneficiaries are vulnerable to the criminal practice of using hidden devices to capture a person’s card data, commonly called “skimming.”

“We’re seeing an uptick in government fraud across all of the big government programs,” State Auditor Keith Faber (R) said Friday. “One of the things we’re seeing in cyber fraud and other types of fraud were the hackers and the fraudsters are using our own technology against us. For a long time those magnetic strips were the way you caught information so it was better than some of the other methods. Now going to a chip stops a lot of that because the skimmers are tougher to scam on the chips whether it’s your ATM card or whether it’s a SNAP benefit card or a credit card,” Faber said.

According to Rader, transitioning from magnetic strips to chip-enabled cards could eliminate most of the SNAP fraud problem “overnight.” 

“The fact that we’re so far behind in this state and many states that still use these outdated technologies really doesn’t speak well of government efficiency and doing our jobs to protect all Ohioans, including Ohio taxpayers that fund these programs,” Rader said. 

 Rader said replacing the cards should not make it more difficult for beneficiaries to get their groceries. Most stores already have chip readers, and the new SNAP cards would still come with the magnetic strip so customers can still swipe their cards if necessary—though Rader advised against it. 

The bill would also make it easier for SNAP beneficiaries to report suspected fraud to the Department of Job and Family Services, and would appropriate about $10.6 million to fund the card replacement. But, Rader says, the state is on a time crunch. 

“The federal government is kicking in money to help fund this and that ends when the Big Beautiful Bill kicks in fully later this year,” Rader said. “If we don’t get this over the finish line here in October, then we’re gonna be on the hook for even more money as a state.” 

H.B. 163 had its fourth hearing in the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday. So far, no groups have submitted formal opposition to the bill.