HB563 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Public assistance; categorical eligibility for food assistance prohibited; Department of Human Resources prohibited from applying higher gross income standards for food assistance than required by federal law

Summary

HB563 would stop Alabama's Department of Human Resources from automatically granting SNAP eligibility based on other benefits and would limit gross income standards to federal levels.

What This Bill Does

Currently, some households are automatically eligible for SNAP because of other public benefits. The bill would prohibit the Department of Human Resources from granting this automatic eligibility, except where federal law requires it. It would also prevent the department from using gross income standards for SNAP that are higher than federal law allows. The changes would take effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Households that would otherwise qualify for SNAP through categorical eligibility due to receipt of other benefits; they would need to meet standard eligibility rules under federal law.
• The Alabama Department of Human Resources; it would apply only federal-standard gross income limits and stop granting categorical eligibility beyond federal requirements when administering SNAP and food assistance.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits granting categorical eligibility for SNAP/food assistance except as required by federal law.
• Prohibits applying gross income standards for eligibility higher than those specified in federal law (7 U.S.C. § 2014(c)); states that the act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health