WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 134

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; increase monthly benefit amount for.

2025 Regular Session

Mississippi bill to raise monthly TANF payments for low-income families died in committee without passage, leaving benefit amounts unchanged.

Died In Committee
#appropriationsa #publichealthandhumanservices
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 134

Legislative bill overview

HB 134 proposed to increase the monthly benefit amount provided through Mississippi's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The bill was referred to the Public Health and Human Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee but died in committee on February 4, 2025, without advancing further.

Why is this important

TANF is a federal-state program that provides cash assistance to low-income families with children. Benefit increases directly affect the purchasing power and financial stability of vulnerable households, with cascading effects on child welfare, housing stability, and local economies where recipients spend assistance dollars.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: Increasing monthly benefits requires identifying funding sources, which could involve tax increases, reallocation from other programs, or state budget constraints
  • Work requirements and incentives: Policymakers often debate whether benefit increases should be paired with employment requirements or if they may reduce workforce participation incentives
  • Adequacy vs. dependency: Disagreement exists over whether benefit levels should be indexed to living costs or kept modest to encourage self-sufficiency through employment

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

Sign in to ask a question.