Share and Follow
WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Hill) – On Tuesday, a bipartisan coalition of Senators unveiled the “Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act,” aimed at expanding the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to include the purchase of rotisserie chicken.
The proposed legislation seeks to update the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act by redefining what qualifies as food to specifically incorporate “hot rotisserie chicken,” as outlined in a joint release from Senator John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) office. The bill will not increase SNAP funding, alter eligibility criteria, or permit the purchase of all hot foods.
Under existing rules, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy hot, prepared meals, limiting recipients to only cold but cooked rotisserie chicken.
“America’s most affordable and tasty option is Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken,” Fetterman remarked in the statement. “It’s a favorite in my household, and I’m proud to work with Senator Justice to make it accessible to all. Utilizing SNAP funds in this way will help nourish families across the country who truly need it.”
Senators Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) have joined Fetterman in support of this amendment.
“Allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken is a simple, practical step to make the program work better for the people it serves,” Capito said in a similar statement. “For seniors, working families, and those without reliable access to cooking equipment, this is about convenience and dignity. With multiple states—including West Virginia—already requesting flexibility in this area, this bill brings SNAP in line with real-world needs while making smart, efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”
Justice said allowing SNAP recipients to buy hot rotisserie chicken is “as basic as you can get to help busy parents or grandparents put something as simple as this on the table to feed their families.”
“It’s plain common sense: a hot rotisserie chicken is a healthy, easy meal for busy families,” he wrote on the social platform X. “Folks on SNAP should be able to grab one on the go.”
The amendment is a companion to a farm bill sponsored by Rep. Rich Crawford (R-Ark.) that received bipartisan support. The aspect of the bill extending to allow the purchase of hot rotisserie chicken was withdrawn.
Crawford said in March that Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) submitted a waiver to extend the program to cover hot rotisserie chicken, according to a statement from the National Chicken Council.
“Hot rotisserie chicken is healthy, widely available, popular in grocery stores, and aligns with the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans promoting nutrient-dense protein,” Crawford said in the statement.