Rep. Rader: Broad Bipartisan Coalition Calls on Statehouse to Secure SNAP EBT Cards

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) this week led a diverse and powerful alliance urging Ohio lawmakers to act now to secure the state’s SNAP EBT cards against fraud—either by advancing House Bill (HB) 163 out of committee or by incorporating its provisions into House Bill 96, the state operating budget.

With more than $17M in SNAP benefits stolen from over 34K Ohioans since 2023, advocates say the time for study is over and the time for action is now. The proposed solution: replace outdated magnetic stripe cards with chip-enabled EBT cards—just as banks and credit card companies did years ago.

“For a fraction of what has already been stolen, Ohio can stop this crime against low-income Ohioans today,” said Rep. Rader. “No finger-pointing, no more paperwork. Let’s solve this with chip card technology that already works everywhere else.”

Backers of the bill stress that the issue is not about partisan politics—it's about protecting vulnerable Ohioans and preserving the integrity of public resources. That message was made abundantly clear during testimony before the House Agriculture Committee, where an unusually broad alliance came forward to support the bill.

Testimony came from every corner of the state and every sector of public life:

• Retail & Grocery: “SNAP fraud is not an inconvenience—it’s a widespread theft of public resources,” said Dan Saltzman, President of Dave’s and Lucky’s Markets. “Chip-enabled cards are a practical and proven solution.”
• Foodbanks: “We’re already serving more people than pre-pandemic levels—with less food,” said Julie Chase-Morefield, CEO of Second Harvest and Chair of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. “HB 163 will help reduce reliance on emergency food aid.”
• Farmers: Scott Higgins of the Ohio Dairy Producers Association reminded lawmakers that SNAP supports a healthy diet—and a $35B Ohio dairy economy.
• Legal Aid & Civil Rights: Deborah Dallmann of Cleveland Legal Aid shared the story of a mother whose benefits were stolen not once, but twice—leaving her children without food and with no replacement possible after federal reimbursements ended in 2024.
   
• Job & Family Services: Kevin Gowan, Director of Cuyahoga JFS, noted that nearly 10,000 incidents of skimming have been reported in Cuyahoga County alone, impacting “residents from all walks of life”
• Faith-Based Advocates: Deacon Nick Bates of the Hunger Network in Ohio put it simply: “It’s better to prevent crime than to punish it. This is a fundamental principle of good legislation”.
• Business & Policy Groups: The Ohio Grocers Association, Ohio Retail Merchants, Center for Community Solutions, Ohio Poverty Law Center, and United Way of Greater Cleveland all filed testimony in support, citing both human and economic impacts.

Supporters say Ohio can join states like Maryland and Oklahoma, which have already begun implementing chip-enabled SNAP cards to block fraud and restore public trust. The one-time $5.3M investment would be matched by federal dollars—and would save millions more in stolen benefits and emergency food costs.

The message from advocates is clear: the solution is here, the cost is modest, and the need is urgent. Now it’s up to lawmakers to act—by passing HB 163 or embedding its provisions into the state budget.

“This is not just a tech fix—it’s a lifeline for families,” said Rep. Rader. “We have a real opportunity to stop these crimes before they happen. Let’s not miss it.”