Utah senate democrats call for special session to allocate funds to SNAP recipients

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah’s senate democrats have called on the governor and legislative leadership to call for a special legislative session to allocate some funds to support the state’s SNAP recipients.

The Utah Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to state leaders asking Governor Spencer Cox and legislative leadership to convene a special session in order to allocate some of the state’s rainy-day funds to support the families who rely on SNAP/food stamps.

According to the caucus, this is exactly what the state’s rainy-day funds are intended for.

SNAP benefits are going to be partially funded by the federal government for November, and the caucus wrote in its letter, “the timing is imperative for the state to cover the remaining amount for the month and ensure families receive uninterrupted support.”

According to the letter, 89,000 Utahns currently rely on SNAP, and many more depend on food banks. That number also includes federal employees furloughed during the government shutdown.

“Food is not a privilege, it’s a basic human right,” Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla said in a press release. “Every family deserves the security of knowing they can feed their children. Utah has the means to step in and ensure no one goes hungry while we wait for federal action.”

The caucus praised efforts to fund the Utah Food Bank, but it also emphasized the importance of making sure that food reaches the people who need it most, especially in rural Utah communities.

ABC4 has reached out to the governor’s office and is waiting to hear back.