TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO REQUEST A BROAD-BASED CATEGORICAL ELIGIBILITY WAIVER FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; AND TO AMEND THE ASSET LIMITS UNDER THE PROGRAM.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathan Dismang and 1 co-sponsor

HB 1915 aimed to ease SNAP eligibility for low-income Arkansas families by requesting a waiver on resource limits and adjusting asset limits to reduce food insecurity.

Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HB 1915
Title: To Direct the Department of Human Services to Request a Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility Waiver for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and to Amend the Asset Limits Under the Program.
Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment
Introduced: March 31, 2025
Sponsors: Representative Eubanks (Primary), Senator J. Dismang

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1915 aimed to enhance access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by requesting a waiver from federal resource limits and adjusting asset limits for eligibility. The intent was to allow more households to qualify for assistance, thereby reducing food insecurity among low-income families in Arkansas.

Key Provisions

Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility Waiver:

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is directed to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exempt SNAP applicants from federal resource limits.

Asset Limit Adjustments:

The asset limit for SNAP eligibility would be set at $6,000, aligning with the federal resource limit.
The asset limit would be automatically adjusted for inflation on a biennial basis.
Households exceeding the asset limit could receive a temporary increase to $5,500 for up to one year, with the possibility of requesting further adjustments in line with federal changes.

Limit on Temporary Increases:

Households could only receive a temporary increase in the asset limit once every five years.

Impact

Estimated Financial Implications:

The fiscal impact of implementing this bill was estimated to range from approximately $976,000 to $1.78 million annually, depending on the number of households affected and the adjustments made.
The average monthly allotment for SNAP was projected at $322.40 per household.

Population Affected:

The bill was designed to benefit low-income households in Arkansas that struggle to meet food security needs, potentially impacting thousands of families by easing eligibility constraints.

Legislative Timeline

March 31, 2025: Bill filed.

April 1, 2025: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.

April 8, 2025: Returned by the Committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation.

April 9, 2025: Passed in the House and transmitted to the Senate.

April 10, 2025: Received in the Senate, read, and referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.

May 5, 2025: Bill died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 1915 sought to improve access to SNAP for vulnerable populations in Arkansas, it ultimately did not progress past the Senate Committee stage. The proposed changes to asset limits and the request for a categorical eligibility waiver reflect ongoing efforts to address food insecurity and support low-income families.

Bill