The Overview
Ohio Senate Bill 315, the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act, became law on October 6, 2026, after Governor Mike DeWine signed it July 7. The bill targets a growing problem: magnetic strip EBT cards used by Ohio's SNAP recipients have been vulnerable to skimming devices that criminals install at food retailers to steal benefits. Between June 2023 and December 2025, $17 million was stolen from more than 34,000 Ohio households. [](#ngr-4a78f0bc-b1aa-4de1-bb9e-8ba4bfbafe64)
What the Law Does
Senate Bill 315, sponsored by State Senators Tim Schaffer and Hearcel Craig, requires Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services to issue chip-enabled EBT cards for all new and replacement accounts under the SNAP program. The bill amends sections 5101.54 and 5101.542 of Ohio's Revised Code and became effective on October 6, 2026. Chip technology, similar to that used on debit and credit cards, makes it significantly more difficult for criminals to skim or clone card data.
By the Numbers
$17 million was stolen from more than 34,000 Ohio households between June 2023 and December 2025. The state's median household income is $71,389, and 13.3 percent of residents live below the poverty line.
The Debate
The bill passed with bipartisan support. The Ohio Senate voted 30-0 to pass the bill on May 20, 2026, and the House voted 88-10 to pass it on June 11, 2026. State Senator Hearcel Craig celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 315 on the Senate floor.
---
This article was generated by AI pulling from data. Each article is edited by an editor for accuracy and clarity.
---
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article