State lawmakers approve $10 million to bolster Colorado food banks as SNAP benefits dry up

https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/30/colorado-legislature-emergency-snap-funds-book-banks-2025/
Because food banks can buy food at a discount of 20 to 30 cents on the dollar, compared to retail prices, the state estimates its $10 million could be leveraged to bring in about $50 million

The Colorado legislature’s Joint Budget Committee on Thursday unanimously approved spending $10 million from the state’s reserves to shore up food banks and food assistance programs while SNAP benefits are suspended due to the government shutdown.

But nonpartisan staff emphasized to lawmakers that Colorado does not have the financial resources to cover people’s lost benefits.

“It is effectively us trying to plow a field with a fork. The scale of this particular emergency vastly outstrips any ability for the state to mitigate it in any truly meaningful way,” said Tom Dermody, the JBC’s chief legislative budget and policy analyst.

Dermody presented the $10 million proposal from the governor’s office to the budget committee and said it falls far short of making up for the $120 million per month the state currently receives in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, money that is distributed to 600,000 Coloradans to help pay for groceries.