Committee allocates $10M to support Summer EBT in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - An Alabama legislative committee has voted to set aside $10 million from the state’s 2025 Education Trust Fund budget to support administrative funding for Summer EBT, a food assistance program for children.

Alabama and 13 other states previously declined to take part in the federal program that gives summer food assistance to low-income families with school age children. The state took part in a pandemic version of the program but later opted out of a permanent program. While the benefits are federally funded, states split the administrative costs, which Gov. Kay Ivey’s office previously cited as the reason for not continuing.

On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee voted unanimously to allocate the money after multiple groups began urging state lawmakers to do something. Among those groups pushing for action is Alabama Arise, which advocates for low-income families.

“Every child needs and deserves healthy meals throughout the year,” said Alabama Arise hunger policy advocate LaTrell Clifford Wood, who added “[we] hope that every legislator will support this important investment in child nutrition, and that Gov. Kay Ivey will sign it into law.”

It’s estimated that the Summer EBT program will reduce food insecurity for more than a half-million Alabama children. Alabama Arise says the program insures school-aged children in low-income homes will continue to have access to nutritious food during the summer months when school meals are unavailable.

The budget must next go to the full Senate for passage and then back to the House where it will also need to be approved.

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