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PROGRAM CHANGES Summarize changes for the upcoming Federal fiscal year (FY) from the prior FY. Significant changes may include new initiatives, changes in funding or funding sources, policy changes, or significant changes to the number of partners or participants. Significant changes could include those made as a result of management evaluation findings or participation in program improvement initiatives, such as SNAP to Skills. It is not necessary to include changes made as a result of new Federal rulemaking. • Oregon is not accepting any new STEP Providers for FFY 2026. With Self-Sufficiency Programs (SSP) Leadership’s support, and for the second time since the STEP program implemented, the program is closed to new providers. This means only existing providers from FFY 2025 can apply to be STEP providers in FFY 2026. For this next federal fiscal year, the SNAP E&T program will continue focusing on strengthening the existing STEP program and supporting the current STEP Provider Network to ensure the best path forward for economic mobility is achievable for the individuals we serve. However, in FFY 2026, Oregon is allowing current providers to add sub-contractors. WorkSystems, Inc., who regularly operates programming with multiple sub-contractors, has elected to add two additional sub-contractors to offer direct SNAP E&T services: Urban League and Trash for Peace. • The Financial Responsibility Act of 2023 prompted adjustments in how discretionary exemptions are allocated and spent down. During FFY 2025, Oregon spent down the available discretionary exemptions and as a result, decided to end the use of county-wide discretionary exemptions starting September 1, 2025, for Benton, Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill counties. Nearly 23,000 individuals with an ABAWD status in these counties were notified via letter in August 2025, informing them of their ABAWD status and the SNAP Time Limits beginning September 1, 2025. Oregon will continue to apply discretionary exemptions to individuals with ABAWD status who are non-work authorized SNAP eligible non-citizens and foster care/resource families who live in a non-waived county and do not meet an ABAWD exemption. • The SNAP E&T Team is committed to supporting the Oregon Employment Department (OED) in their system modernization process. OED’s Integrated Labor Exchange and Case Management Solution Modernization process is well underway in FFY 2025 and will continue into FFY 2026. One ODHS SNAP E&T Team Policy Analyst is supporting data exchange discussions, process mapping for STEP Providers, and is a member of the Modernization Evaluation Committee. As part of the committee, the ODHS Policy Analyst reviewed the RFP’s (Request for Proposal) submissions, attended and evaluated the in-person potential vendor demonstrations, and evaluated the potential vendor price proposals. This team member will continue to be integral in the Modernization process in FFY 2026 to support when a vendor is selected, to facilitate discussions between ODHS and OED, ensure data transfer needs and system functionality is addressed and compliant with state/federal requirements, and serve as a point of contact for SNAP E&T program needs. Highlight any changes from above that the State agency is making to the E&T program based on the prior year’s performance, for instance changes made as a result of E&T outcome and participation data. • Oregon is evaluating the capacity and state budget to continue some of the SNAP E&T Navigator positions. While the positions are primarily funded through SNAP E&T 100% funding, the remainder of their work comes from other funding sources, such as Oregon Eligibility Partnership (funding for the eligibility portion of the Navigator work). Due to a shortfall in Oregon’s General Fund (GF) budget in the current state budget biennium, we are looking closely at other funding sources to continue these vital positions. The SNAP E&T Team is committed to working with state budget teams to continue evaluation of funding sources to keep these positions in place in the upcoming FFY. Unfortunately, during the course of FFY 2025, additional funding sources were not identified, and Oregon had to end twelve of the SNAP E&T Navigator rotation 1/29/26, 9:33 AM State Plan OR FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-orfy26stateplan//index.html 6/378