HARRISBURG − June 23, 2026 – Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton) announced today that Senate Bill 362, her legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s response to SNAP and EBT skimming crimes, passed the Pennsylvania Senate by unanimous vote (49Y:0N).
Senate Bill 362 updates Pennsylvania’s Human Services Code to better address criminals who steal SNAP and EBT benefit information through skimming, scanning devices, reencoders, and other methods used to replicate or misuse a recipient’s access device information. The bill was developed in consultation with the Office of the State Inspector General and the Department of Human Services to reflect how these crimes are actually being committed and prosecuted.
“SNAP skimming is not petty theft. These are calculated crimes that can wipe out a family’s food budget in minutes,” Boscola said. “This bill gives prosecutors clearer tools to go after the people stealing food assistance benefits from Pennsylvania families.”
As of May 2026, more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians receive SNAP benefits, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and families trying to make ends meet. In 2024 alone, OSIG reported more than $15 million in SNAP benefits stolen through skimming. Recent reporting also found more than 5,100 Pennsylvania EBT skimming cases from January through May 2026, totaling approximately $2.5 million in stolen benefits.
“Every dollar stolen from a SNAP recipient is stolen twice,” Boscola said. “It is stolen from the family relying on those benefits to buy groceries, and it is stolen from the taxpayers who expect those dollars to reach people in need.”
SB 362 grades a first offense as a felony of the third degree and a second or subsequent offense as a felony of the second degree. The bill also requires restitution, extends the statute of limitations from four years to five years, and accounts for similar prior offenses in Pennsylvania, other states, or under federal law.
“This is a commonsense bill to protect disabled individuals, seniors and other beneficiaries, protect taxpayers, and help prosecutors hold offenders accountable,” Boscola said. “I am pleased the Senate moved this legislation forward, and I urge the House to take it up quickly.”
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