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90th General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

SF 494: Relating to public assistance program oversight

Signed into law

What it does

This bill relates to public assistance program oversight. The bill relates to various eligibility verification and authentication measures under new Code chapter 239. The bill provides definitions used in the new Code chapter. The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS or the department) to establish the income threshold for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) at less than or equal to 160 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size. The bill also requires HHS to complete a computerized identity authentication process for an applicant for public assistance benefits and to conduct an asset test on all members of the household of an applicant for SNAP benefits.

Sponsors

Health and Human Services committee

Cost

Cost: up to $200,000

9 million in FY 2025, and decrease State costs by $200,000 in FY 2026. 2 million annually. Details of the estimated HHS and IWD staff costs, increases in IT and miscellaneous costs, and savings are listed in Figure 2 for FY 2024 through FY 2027.

House subcommittee · named March 27, 2023

  • Rep. Joel Fry (R)
  • Rep. Timi M. Brown-Powers (D) · timi.brown-powers@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Heather Matson (D) · heather.matson@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Ann Meyer (R) · ann.meyer@legis.iowa.gov
  • Rep. Henry Stone (R) · henry.stone@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 0 for, 15 against

Against: Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa; Disability Rights Iowa; Ellipsis; Family Planning Council of Iowa; Iowa Catholic Conference; Iowa Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics; Iowa Farmers Union; Iowa Food Bank Association; Iowa State Education Association; National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter; Personal Interest-Denise Bubeck; Prevent Child Abuse Iowa; and 3 more

In plain words

  1. March 2, 2023Filed in the Senate
  2. March 2, 2023Approved by the Senate committee
  3. March 22, 2023Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  4. March 22, 2023Passed the Senate, 34–16
  5. March 24, 2023Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  6. March 27, 2023Arrived in the House
  7. March 27, 2023House subcommittee named: Fry, Brown-Powers, Matson, Meyer, A. and Stone
  8. March 28, 2023Subcommittee recommended passing it
  9. March 30, 2023Approved by the House committee
  10. April 13, 2023Passed the House, 58–41
  11. May 8, 2023Sent to the Governor
  12. May 9, 2023Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  13. June 1, 2023Signed into law

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/90/SF494