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HB 2358

Requiring able-bodied adults and work registrants without dependents under six years of age to participate in an employment training program as a condition of receiving food assistance.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 2358 tightens SNAP work rules by limiting exemptions to households with children under six, requiring more able-bodied adults to participate in employment and training.

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Bill Summary · HB 2358

HB 2358 — Summary (Kansas, 2025 session)

Status: Introduced Feb 3, 2025; referred to House Committee on Welfare Reform.
Primary subject: Food assistance; employment & training participation requirement.

Purpose / intent

Amend Kansas law governing food assistance eligibility to require able-bodied adults and work registrants who do not have a dependent child under six years of age to participate in an employment and training program as a condition of receiving food assistance. The bill narrows existing exemptions (which currently apply to recipients with dependents under age 18) so that the exemption applies only to households with children under six.

Key provisions

  • Modify K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 39-709 to require participation in an employment and training (E&T) program for:
    • Able-bodied adults, and
    • Work registrants who do not have a dependent under age six, as a continuing condition of receiving food assistance (SNAP).
  • Individuals who refuse to participate would become ineligible for continued food assistance; individuals who are exempt or who meet requirements (including children and other exempt persons) would continue to receive benefits.
  • The change would expand the pool of recipients subject to E&T participation requirements (removes prior exemption for households with children ages 6–17).

Who would be affected

  • Primary impact: food assistance recipients who are able-bodied adults or work registrants and who have dependent children aged 6–17 (previously exempt) — estimated 10,901 such current registrants.
  • Those who comply with E&T would retain benefits; those who do not would lose eligibility (but exempt household members would still be eligible).
  • Department for Children and Families (DCF) — increased case management and compliance workload.
  • Federal approval: any change in SNAP work requirements requires federal approval (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Implementation could depend on receiving federal authorization.

Fiscal impact (Division of the Budget fiscal note, Feb 16, 2025)

  • Participation assumption: DCF estimates 10% of newly required individuals would participate in E&T.
  • Participant program costs (state + federal):
    • FY2026: $497,280 total; State General Fund (SGF) share $248,640 (50% state match).
    • FY2027 and ongoing: $917,280 total; SGF share $458,640.
  • State administration / staffing:
    • Add 4.00 Human Service Specialist positions to manage cases:
    • FY2026 cost: $321,446 total ($160,723 SGF)
    • FY2027 cost: $319,232 total ($159,616 SGF)
    • Add 1.00 non-compliance coordinator (to assist with “good cause” determinations and penalties; one existing position currently performs related duties):
    • FY2026 cost: $68,780 total ($39,046 SGF)
    • FY2027 cost: $68,171 total ($38,701 SGF)
  • Aggregate estimated state expenditure (FY2026): $887,506 total; SGF portion $448,409. (FY2027 estimates increase consistent with participant cost assumptions.)
  • Notes:
    • SNAP benefits themselves are 100% federally funded; disallowing non-participants could reduce federal benefit outlays for those households but any policy change must be approved by federal authorities.
    • Additional state funding may be required to secure federal approvals or for other administrative actions.

Procedural / timing notes

  • Introduced into the Kansas House and referred to the House Committee on Welfare Reform (per bill header).
  • Fiscal note prepared Feb 16, 2025. Federal approval required before SNAP work requirement changes can be implemented; timeline for approval may affect when (or whether) provisions can take effect.

Bottom line

HB 2358 would tighten SNAP work requirement exemptions in Kansas by limiting the dependent-child exemption to households with children under six (rather than under 18), thereby increasing the number of recipients required to participate in employment and training. The measure would increase DCF administrative responsibilities (estimated +5.0 FTE) and produce modest state costs to match federally funded participant services; implementation also depends on federal approval of the changed work rules.

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

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