Relating to eligibility requirements for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children

This bill relates to eligibility requirements for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to submit a request to the food and nutrition service of the United States department of agriculture (USDA) for approval of a waiver to provide, for purposes of WIC, continuous eligibility during a woman’s pregnancy for a pregnant woman whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), 12 months of continuous postpartum eligibility for a postpartum woman whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL, and 12 months from the date of an infant’s birth of continuous eligibility for an infant whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL. The bill requires HHS to implement the waiver not fewer than 30 calendar days from the receipt of approval from the USDA food and nutrition service. If the USDA food and nutrition service does not approve the waiver, HHS shall submit a report to the general assembly on or before December 31, 2025, containing the cost of HHS providing the expanded eligibility under WIC without the assistance of additional federal moneys. On July 1, 2026, if the USDA fails to approve the waiver to expand eligibility for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under WIC, and the general assembly appropriates moneys for the purpose of expanding eligibility for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under WIC, HHS shall provide continuous eligibility during a woman’s pregnancy for a pregnant woman whose family income that does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL, 12 months of continuous postpartum eligibility for a postpartum woman whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL, and 12 months from the date of an infant’s birth of continuous eligibility for an infant whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL.