Alabama food banks bracing for impact as Congress moves on ‘big, beautiful bill’

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — One Alabama food bank said $300 million are at stake in President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” that is moving through Congress.

Those are federal dollars that the state would have to pick up for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, if the bill passes.

Some said that change will harm Alabama, while others said the state is ready to respond.

“I hate that the program will suffer because of this lack of funding, and I don’t know where the state would come up with $300 million,” said Nicole Williams, CEO of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.

That money has worried food banks in Alabama. Williams said over 700,000 Alabamians rely on SNAP benefits. She said families and grocery stores could feel the impact if those cuts are signed into law.

“We’re also concerned about grocery stores in rural areas and them not being able to stay afloat or grocery stores closing and causing more food deserts,” Williams said.

But the 2025 Alabama general budget chairman, state Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, said he’s talked about those concerns with the department of finance and others. He said the state will have a better idea of what those funding changes mean closer to next year’s session.

“We’ve got to prioritize going forward,” Reynolds said. “So we’ll understand the cuts before we go back into the session in January of ’26, and we’ll understand what we can and what we can’t do.”

Reynolds said they may be able to offset the loss of dollars next year for Medicaid and SNAP.

“That may be something that the House considers going into that ’26 session and getting out ahead of any potential,” Reynolds said.

Carol Gundlach with Alabama Arise said the federal government should do its part when funding SNAP and Medicaid.

“So rather than do what they need to do to adequately fund these programs, they’re passing the buck onto the states,” Reynolds said.

Those cuts have been passed by the U.S. House and are now making their way through the Senate. Williams said the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama gave 21 million meals to families just last year.