Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to eligibility for certain public assistance programs
Sponsored by Sen. Cherielynn Westrich (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 12, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 17, 2026
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Before people can start or keep receiving help from programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or CHIP, the Department of Health and Human Services must check their citizenship status. This check uses an online system from the federal government to verify immigration information. This rule applies to anyone applying for or already receiving these types of public assistance benefits.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to eligibility for certain public assistance programs. “Public assistance program”, as defined in Code section 239.2, means the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), the medical assistance program (Medicaid), the family investment program (FIP), and the children’s health insurance program (CHIP). The bill requires HHS, prior to determining the initial eligibility of an applicant for, or the ongoing eligibility of a recipient of, public assistance benefits to verify immigration and United States citizenship information of the applicant or recipient through the systematic alien verification for entitlements online service maintained by the United States citizenship and immigration services of the United States department of homeland security.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 17, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part