Bill

Bill > SB2198


MS SB2198

MS SB2198
SNAP and Medicaid benefits; confirm status as eligible alien under federal law to be eligible for.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Create New Section 43-12-10, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That No Individual Who Is Not A United States Citizen Or A National Of The United States Shall Be Eligible For Participation In The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (snap) Or For Medicaid Unless The Individual Meets The Definition Of An Eligible Alien Under 7 Usc § 2015(f) Or 42 Usc § 1396b(v), As The Case May Be, And Meets The Definition Of A Qualified Alien Under 8 Usc § 1641(b); To Require The Department Of Human Services (department) And The Division Of Medicaid (division) To Verify Citizenship Or Eligible Alien Status During Enrollment And Eligibility Redeterminations; To Require The Department And The Division To Submit To Appropriate Law Enforcement Authorities Information Concerning Any Household Member Determined To Be An Unlawfully Present Alien; To Require The Department And The Division To Submit Information Concerning Any Household Member For Whom They Are Unable To Verify Eligible Alien Status; To Set Forth Income And Financial Resources To Be Considered In Determining Eligibility For Participation In Snap; To Require The Division To Adhere To Certain Requirements Regarding The Reasonable Opportunity Period For Verification Of United States Citizenship Or Eligible Alien Status For Medicaid And To Require A Field For Citizenship Or Eligible Alien Status On All Presumptive Eligibility Applications; To Direct The Division To Require Hospitals That Accept Medicaid To Include A Provision On Admission Or Registration Forms For Information About A Patient's Citizenship Or Immigration Status; To Provide That The Division Shall Require Such Hospitals To Submit Quarterly Reports That Include The Number Of Admissions Or Emergency Department Visits Based On Citizenship And Immigration Status; To Require The Division To Submit Annual Reports To The Governor, The President Of The Senate, And The Speaker Of The House Of Representatives That Include The Total Number Of Hospital Admissions And Emergency Department Visits From Hospitals That Accept Medicaid For The Prior Year Based On Citizenship And Immigration Status; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill establishes new requirements for individuals seeking to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or Medicaid in Mississippi, clarifying that only U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or "eligible aliens" (as defined by federal law, meaning non-citizens who meet specific criteria for receiving these benefits) can qualify. The Department of Human Services (department) and the Division of Medicaid (division) are mandated to verify an applicant's citizenship or eligible alien status during the application and renewal processes, using systems like SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) or requiring documentation. If an individual is determined to be unlawfully present in the U.S. or if their eligible alien status cannot be verified, the department and division must report this information to law enforcement and federal agencies, respectively. For SNAP, the income and resources of ineligible household members will be counted towards the household's eligibility. The bill also outlines specific procedures for Medicaid, including a limited "reasonable opportunity period" for applicants to provide verification, requiring citizenship or eligible alien status information on presumptive eligibility applications, and mandating that hospitals accepting Medicaid collect and report patient immigration status data on admission and in quarterly reports, with the division then submitting an annual report to state leadership on hospital admissions and emergency department visits by immigration status.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)

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