Sponsors
The bill expands drug screening and disqualification rules across TANF, SNAP, and federally assisted housing to curb benefit misuse and encourage treatment, but it substantially raises the risk that low-income people—including those arrested but not convicted, on prescription medications, or unable to access consistent treatment—will lose essential food, income, and housing support and that states and local agencies will face heavier administrative burdens and penalties.
Low-income SNAP applicants and assisted housing applicants/tenants: States and public housing agencies are required/authorized to provide testing without charging applicants, reducing direct out-of-pocket testing costs.
Low-income individuals with recent arrests: Screening and testing requirements could identify substance use and connect some people to treatment services they might otherwise not access.
TANF households: Excluding individuals who test positive aims to reduce misuse of cash assistance and, in at least some program designs, preserve benefit amounts for other eligible household members.
Low-income adults across TANF, SNAP, and federally assisted housing: Adults (18+) who test positive for controlled substances can be barred from cash assistance, SNAP, or housing for at least 12 months, risking immediate loss of income, food, and shelter.
Children and families relying on benefits: Denial or suspension of SNAP, TANF, or housing benefits increases risks of food insecurity, housing instability, eviction, and homelessness for whole households and children.
People with prior arrests, especially racial and ethnic minorities: The requirement that States check up to five years of arrest records and tie screening to arrests—not just convictions—can exclude people who were arrested but not convicted, increasing wrongful exclusion and disparate impacts.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires drug-arrest checks, screenings, and drug tests for adults 18+ to determine eligibility for TANF cash, SNAP, and certain federal housing and disqualifies those who test positive until treatment and negative tests.
Requires States and public housing authorities to screen and drug-test adults (age 18+) who seek or receive TANF cash assistance, SNAP benefits, or certain federally assisted housing if they have a drug-related arrest in the past 5 years or screen positive on a State-approved substance-abuse screening. Individuals who test positive for controlled substances are disqualified from benefits for at least 12 months and until they complete treatment and test negative. States and housing administrative entities set testing timing, methods, and which substances to test for; they may not charge applicants or recipients for tests. Noncompliant States face a 15% penalty on specified federal grant or administrative reimbursements.
Introduced January 13, 2025 by David Rouzer · Last progress January 13, 2025