Bill
Bill > HB126
MS HB126
TANF benefits; remove certain restrictions and penalties for applicants and recipients.
summary
Introduced
01/10/2025
01/10/2025
In Committee
01/10/2025
01/10/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act To Amend Section 43-17-5, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Increase The Maximum Income And Resources Limits For Eligibility For Tanf Benefits; To Delete The Family Cap On The Receipt Of Tanf Benefits; To Delete The Mandatory Up-front Job Search For Tanf Applicants; To Delete The Requirement To Be In Compliance With The Drug Testing And Substance Use Disorder Treatment Requirements In Order To Receive Tanf Benefits; To Remove The Full Family Sanction For Refusal Of An Adult Or Caretaker Relative To Participate In Allowable Work Activity And Have The Sanction Apply Only To That Person; To Delete The Sanction For Permanent Disqualification For Tanf Benefits; To Provide That The Work Requirements For Tanf Recipients Shall Not Apply To Those Recipients Who Reside In Areas That Have An Unemployment Rate Or Do Not Have A Sufficient Number Of Jobs To Provide Employment, And Shall Not Apply To Any Tanf Recipients During A Formal State Or Federal Declaration Of A Natural Disaster Or State Of Emergency; To Amend Section 43-12-35, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform The Sanction Provisions To Those In The Preceding Section; To Repeal Section 43-12-27, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Provides For A Family Cap On The Receipt Of Tanf Benefits; To Repeal Section 43-17-6, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Requires Applicants For And Recipients Of Tanf Benefits To Be Screened And Tested For Certain Drugs And Receive Treatment For Substance Use Disorders; And For Related Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill proposes significant changes to Mississippi's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program by removing several existing restrictions and penalties. The bill increases the income limit for TANF eligibility to 200% of the federal poverty level and raises the resource limit to $4,000. It eliminates the previous "family cap" that limited benefits for additional children, removes the mandatory upfront job search requirement, and deletes the drug testing and substance abuse treatment requirements for TANF applicants. The bill modifies work requirements by exempting recipients in areas with high unemployment (over 10%) or insufficient job opportunities, and during formally declared natural disasters or states of emergency. Additionally, the bill changes sanctions for non-compliance with work activities to apply only to the specific individual who fails to comply, rather than penalizing the entire family. Notably, the bill removes the permanent disqualification for repeated violations and adjusts the penalties for non-participation in work activities to be less severe, with sanctions ranging from two to twelve months depending on the number of violations. These changes aim to provide more flexible and supportive assistance to low-income families seeking to become self-sufficient.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Died In Committee (on 02/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0126.xml |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2025/html/HB/0100-0199/HB0126IN.htm |
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