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Bill

A 2061

Eliminates asset limits in calculating the amount of benefits for any household under any public assistance program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick and 8 co-sponsors

Eliminates asset tests for all public assistance programs, making benefits based on need rather than assets, potentially expanding eligibility and affecting program budgets.

REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 2061

Summary of Bill A 2061

Overview

Bill A 2061 seeks to remove asset limits from the calculation of benefits for any household under any public assistance program. In other words, it would eliminate asset tests as a factor in determining how much assistance a household is eligible to receive, across all public aid programs.

  • Bill number: A 2061
  • Title: Eliminates asset limits in calculating the amount of benefits for any household under any public assistance program
  • Status: Referred to Social Services
  • Introduced: January 15, 2025
  • Classification: Bill
  • Primary sponsor: Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
  • Cosponsors: Jo Anne Simon, Chris Burdick, Charles Fall, Tony Simone, Catalina Cruz, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Steven Raga, Ron Kim (plus others listed as cosponsors)

Purpose and Intent

  • The core intent is to broaden access to public assistance by removing the asset-testing requirement that currently affects how benefit amounts are calculated. By not considering households’ assets, the bill aims to make benefits more responsive to need rather than to savings or asset holdings.

Key Provisions (as indicated by title and bill description)

  • Eliminate asset tests (asset limits) in calculating the amount of benefits.
  • Apply universally to all households and all public assistance programs (i.e., no program would use asset levels to reduce or cap benefits).
  • The bill would necessitate changes to program rules, eligibility determinations, and related administrative processes to implement the removal of asset limits.

Note: The specific implementation details (definitions of “assets,” how calculations would be revised, transition provisions, and any sunset or phased-in timelines) are not provided in the summary you supplied. The bill’s text would clarify these elements.

Affected Parties and Impact

  • Households: Potentially larger or more predictable benefit amounts, especially for households with significant assets who might previously have faced lower benefits due to asset testing.
  • Public assistance programs: Administrative agencies would update eligibility criteria, guidelines, and IT/systems that currently apply asset thresholds.
  • Budget/ fiscal impact: Removing asset tests could affect the overall cost of public assistance programs and may require budget and policy adjustments at the state level.

Legislative Context and Process

  • Current status: Referred to the Social Services committee; no further actions listed beyond the initial referral on January 15, 2025.
  • Related/Balanced legislation: A 10417, A 1288, A 2214, A 3539 (prior-session bills); and S 1791 (companion bills) referenced in connection to A 2061.

Procedural/Timeline Considerations

  • Next steps typically include committee hearings, potential amendments, and floor votes. If advanced, the bill would move to the full chamber for consideration. Implementation details (effective date, transition rules) would be specified in the final enacted language.

Practical takeaways

  • If enacted, A 2061 would remove the consideration of household assets in benefit calculations across all public assistance programs, potentially expanding eligibility and changing program administration and budget planning. The precise impact would depend on the bill’s final text, any phased implementation, and how existing program rules are reconciled with the asset-elimination approach.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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