Senate Bill 61 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Public assistance; regular cross-checks required for Medicaid and food assistance eligibly, categorical eligibly for food assistance prohibited, eligibility for food assistance further provided for

Summary

SB61 would tighten Medicaid and SNAP eligibility in Alabama by requiring regular data-based verification, ending broad SNAP categorical eligibility, and setting new SNAP certification periods.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires the Medicaid Agency to stop relying on unverified self-attestations and instead verify eligibility using data matches with other state agencies and federal data sources. It also requires regular data sharing and cross-checking for Medicaid eligibility, plus monthly and quarterly reviews of information from various state and federal sources to catch changes in circumstances. For SNAP, the bill bans categorical eligibility, limits gross income and resource standards to federal rules (with limited exceptions), and establishes specific SNAP certification periods based on household characteristics. It also requires public reporting of fraud/noncompliance data and adoption of implementing rules by the relevant agencies.

Who It Affects

• Medicaid applicants and current enrollees in Alabama would have their eligibility verified through ongoing data matching with state and federal records, reducing reliance on self-attestation.
• SNAP (food assistance) applicants and recipients in Alabama would be subject to data matching across state and federal data, with no broad categorical eligibility and with newly defined certification periods.

Key Provisions

• Medicaid eligibility determinations may not rely on unverified self-attestation; verification is required before enrollment (unless federal law requires otherwise).
• Medicaid must enter data matching agreements with specified state agencies (e.g., Department of Public Health, Department of Human Resources, Department of Corrections, Department of Workforce, Department of Revenue) to cross-check eligibility.
• Monthly data sources for Medicaid cross-checks include death records, residency indicators via out-of-state EBT, and incarceration status; quarterly data sources include changes in employment, income, assets, and residency from Workforce and Revenue data.
• Medicaid shall review ongoing eligibility at least monthly using federal data sources (SSA, HHS NDNH, child support, etc.) and act on changes that may affect eligibility.
• Starting no later than October 1, 2029, Medicaid enrollment information must be submitted to CMS's national Medicaid enrollment database monthly to identify individuals enrolled in more than one state.
• Medicaid must publish aggregated data on noncompliance and fraud investigations on its public website and adopt implementing rules.
• SNAP must be restricted from granting categorical eligibility and from applying gross income or allowable resources standards higher than federal limits, with limited exceptions for alternative vehicle allowances under federal law.
• SNAP data matching must be conducted by the Department of Human Resources with monthly and quarterly data inputs from state agencies (including death records, residency status, employment, income, and tax data).
• SNAP findings on noncompliance and fraud must be publicly disclosed in aggregate form, with implementing rules adopted by the Department of Human Resources.
• SNAP certification periods shall be set so that some households receive up to four months (e.g., zero net income, able-bodied adult without dependents, unstable circumstances) and others one or two months if near ineligibility, with rules to be adopted.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health