Author: Emma Soukup
-
South Dakota voters approve constitutional amendment allowing Medicaid work requirements
On Tuesday, South Dakota voters approved Amendment F, amending the South Dakota Constitution to allow the state to set work requirements for Medicaid if approved by the federal government. The measure was passed 56% to 44% per the unofficial results. The federal government does not establish work requirements for Medicaid. States that wish to add…
-
Washington law expands child care subsidy eligibility by including early education programs goes into effect November 1, 2024
Washington House Bill 2124, which modifies child care subsidy work requirements, went into effect November 1, 2024. The bill requires the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to recognize participation in the Birth to Three Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) or the Early Head Start program as approved activities to meet work…
-
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) vetoes bill that would provide unemployment insurance to individuals residing in the country without legal permission
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed Senate Bill 227 on September 28, 2024, which proposed an excluded workers unemployment insurance program. These excluded workers, particularly those without legal immigration status, are unable to access traditional unemployment benefits. The proposed Excluded Workers Program would have created a framework for financial assistance for these individuals, directing the…
-
Roundup of state Medicaid work requirement legislation and ballot measures in 2024
Legislatures in two states — Kansas and Mississippi — considered but did not pass bills to expand Medicaid in 2024. Both bills would have included work requirements. Voters in one state — South Dakota — will decide a ballot measure to allow Medicaid work requirements on November 5. Background Ten states have not expanded Medicaid…
-
New federal SNAP work requirements take effect: age exemption rises to 54
On October 1, 2024, the final phase of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) will take effect, raising the age limit for exemptions from certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements. Individuals will now age out of the able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements at age 54, instead of 52. This means that able-bodied…
-
Pennsylvania renews SNAP work requirement waiver for another year
Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services Secretary received federal approval of a new waiver of work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This new waiver extends exemption from work requirements of 80 hours per month for SNAP recipients in most counties in Pennsylvania through August 31, 2025. It will continue to exempt an estimated…
-
Responses to California bill banning gender identity parental notification policies (AB 1955)
On July 15, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed Assembly Bill 1955 (AB 1955) into law, which will become effective January 1, 2025. AB 1955 prohibits school districts and charter schools from adopting or enforcing any policy requiring an employee to disclose any information related to a pupil’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This…