Senator Mark Warner has joined the push for change on a kitchen table issue—literally— by sponsoring legislation allowing SNAP benefits to be used to buy hot rotisserie chicken.

Currently, SNAP recipients can purchase rotisserie chickens only after they cool down, due to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which prohibits using SNAP benefits for hot, ready to eat foods.

“For families trying to stretch every dollar, it doesn’t make much sense that SNAP recipients can buy a rotisserie chicken once it’s cooled down, but not while it’s still hot,” said Warner. “This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense fix to an outdated rule that will make it easier for working families, seniors, and other SNAP recipients to put an affordable, nutritious meal on the table.”

Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia, who introduced the bill, also described the legislation as “truly just commonsense.”

“We have to give people the option to put a healthy, protein-dense choice on the table that actually tastes good and doesn’t take an hour and a half to cook,” he said.

The legislation has found an overwhelming amount of bipartisan support, and numerous members of Congress note that hot rotisserie chickens—typically costing $5–7—offer unmatched value as one of the most affordable protein options in the grocery store, with the ability to feed a family and save significant time.

A House version of the legislation that was presented as an amendment to the 2026 Farm Bill was passed 384–35, with every member of Virginia’s delegation voting in favor.

One of the sponsors of the House bill, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, made clear it was not an effort to allow all hot foods and the use of benefits would not be expanded to restaurants.

In addition to emphasizing this is a bipartisan proposal, Warner also noted that the measure is endorsed by the National Chicken Council, the Virginia Poultry Federation, and Feeding America.

“My bill is a winner, winner, chicken dinner for our people, and it is time we got it done,” said Justice.