State Sen. John Liu and Assemblymember Nily Rozic joined a number of local elected officials and small business leaders in Flushing Thursday morning to announce the rollout of a statewide initiative encouraging stores across the state to upgrade to technology allowing for the use of chip-and-tap-enabled EBT cards as part of efforts to combat SNAP fraud.

Liu and Rozic joined U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, Assemblymember Ron Kim and representatives from a number of Flushing and Bayside-based businesses to urge businesses that accept EBT to upgrade to new point-of-sale technology by the state's Dec. 1 deadline.

Liu and Rozic had pushed for the rollout of chip-enabled EBT cards during a legislative budget hearing in February, with chip-enabled cards set to be distributed in early 2027. Liu's staff said magstrip EBT cards will no longer work next year, with Liu stating it is in the business's best interest to upgrade to the new technology so that they can continue to accept EBT payments going forward.

"A ll the business that the SNAP benefits and EBT cards – that's business for the business owner, no matter what size," Liu said at a press conference announcing the rollout at Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel Thursday morning.

He added that the state has relied upon an "outdated" EBT system for years that has made it "too easy" for scammers to steal SNAP benefits from New Yorkers through skimming devices.

"This upgrade is long overdue, and now that the state has done its part, we urge supermarkets and other EBT-accepting businesses to upgrade their systems as soon as possible so their customers can have the peace of mind to shop at their stores and put food on the table," Liu said in a statement issued after the event.

He also praised New York's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Commissioner Barbara Guinn for committing to a speedy rollout of the new chip-enabled cards. Guinn committed to a 12-18-month rollout of the new cards after appearing at the budget hearing in February, with funding for the transition later included in the FY 2027 budget.

"A huge thanks to Commissioner Guinn and OTDA for helping break through years of delays and expediting this rollout to reform New York’s EBT system," Liu said. Rozic, meanwhile, said EBT theft can have a devastating impact on the New Yorkers who rely upon SNAP benefits, describing chip-and-tap technology as a stronger safeguard against card skimming. "I urge retailers to meet the December 1 deadline and do their part to protect consumers and ensure these critical benefits reach the families they are intended to serve," Rozic said in a statement.

Kim said the rate of EBT fraud in New York State is an "embarrassment" to the public sector, adding that the ease with which criminals can scam SNAP recipients undermines "everything good about public benefits and public good."

"It is critically important that we get this right," Kim said Thursday. "That we seize this moment to not just offer short-term solutions, but long-term solutions, which is what we're doing today."

Meng, who has introduced legislation in Congress that would allow the federal government to reissue stolen SNAP benefits to victims of EBT fraud, said the transition to chip-enabled technology is a "crucial step" in preventing future theft.

"My bill, the Ending Stolen SNAP Benefits Act, seeks to help New York and other states cover the costs of switching to these improved cards, and as we prepare for this upcoming transition, we remind local retailers that they should be ready to accept them," Meng said in a statement. "I am grateful that our state will be taking a crucial step towards stopping despicable criminals from taking food out of the mouths of vulnerable New Yorkers."

Dian Yu, executive director of the Flushing Business Improvement District (BID) , said the measure will help ensure that customers feel safe shopping in the neighborhood, noting that Flushing has at least 11 supermarkets that accept EBT.

Liu is encouraging all stores that accept EBT to contact their point-of-sale provider immediately in order to update their technology to fully support chip-and-pin EBT cards by Dec. 1. By doing so, Liu added, retailers will ensure that they can take payments via the new cards once they are issued next year.

Reach me at shane.obrien@queenspost.com