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HB0148

Wyoming HB0148: Medicaid Work Requirements and SNAP Restrictions

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would require most Medicaid recipients to work, attend school, or volunteer for at least 20 hours a week to keep their benefits, while also prohibiting the state from seeking federal waivers for food assistance work rules.

What it does

  • Requires the Department of Health to apply for a federal waiver to implement new Medicaid work requirements.
  • Mandates that eligible Medicaid recipients work, attend school, participate in an employment and training program, or volunteer for at least 20 hours per week.
  • Allows recipients to combine work, school, training, and volunteering to meet the 20-hour weekly total.
  • Exempts specific groups, including those under 18, over 65, pregnant, medically unable to work, caregivers of young children or those with serious medical conditions, and participants in drug or alcohol treatment programs.
  • States that if a recipient fails to meet the requirements, their Medicaid eligibility is extinguished for 12 months following the determination.
  • Prohibits the Department of Family Services from applying for federal waivers or state plan amendments regarding work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Requires the Department of Workforce Services to provide data on a recipient's employment status to the Department of Health.

Who it affects

  • Medicaid recipients in Wyoming who are not exempt under the listed exceptions.
  • The Wyoming Department of Health, which must apply for the waiver, verify compliance, and implement the rules.
  • The Wyoming Department of Family Services, which is restricted from pursuing certain SNAP waivers.
  • The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, which must provide employment data to the Department of Health.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass the Wyoming House of Representatives in 2018, so these rules were not enacted into law.
  • The specific rules for determining 'good cause' exemptions and 'serious medical conditions' are to be defined by future department rules, not the bill text itself.
  • The bill depends on federal approval of a waiver; if the federal government does not approve it, the state cannot implement the work requirements.

Plain language

Terms to know

Federal Waiver
Permission from the federal government to change or waive standard rules for state programs like Medicaid.
SNAP
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program that provides food benefits to eligible households.
Extinguished
In this context, it means the benefit is canceled or ended.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 7, 7:09 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill because they believe it is a solution looking for a problem, citing that Wyoming already has some of the lowest Medicaid and SNAP rates in the nation.

Public statementFloor statement at 18:00 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker questions the bill by noting that everyone currently covered is exempted and asks who remains to be affected.

Public statementFloor statement at 20:00 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

1 roll call

H Failed Introduction 34-24-2-0-02018-02-15 · House34 yes 24 no
Yes
34
No
24
Absent
0
Excused
2
Conflict
0

Yes 34

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Bo BitemanR · H51Carl R LoucksH59Charles J GrayH57Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Clifford M JenningsH30Dan FurphyH14Danny EyreH19David E NorthrupH50Donald E Burkhart JrH15Evan J SimpsonH21Hans HuntH02James R AllenH33Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47John C EklundH10Joseph E MacGuireH35Lars O LoneH12LAURSEN DANMartha D HalversonH22Nathan A WintersH28Robert A ClausenH06Roy H EdwardsH53Scott CourtH24Scott M ClemH31Steve HarshmanR · H37Theodore J BlackburnH42Timothy P HallinanH32Tim SalazarR · H34Tyler E LindholmH01William H Mr. HaleyH46William H PownallH52

No 24

Andrew W SchwartzH23Bob NicholasR · H08Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45Clark D StithH48Dan R KirkbrideH04Dan ZwonitzerH43David R MillerH55Debbie BoveeH36Eric BarlowR · H03Garry C PiiparinenH49James W ByrdH44JoAnn R DaytonH17John L FreemanH60LARSEN LLOYDMark S KinnerH29Michael K MaddenH40Mike GierauD · H16Patrick SweeneyH58Stanley L BlakeH39Susan S WilsonH07Thomas D CrankH18Thomas J WaltersH38William D HendersonH41

Excused 2

Landon BrownR · H09Michael D GreearH27

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Failed Introduction 34-24-2-0-0House
  2. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  3. Bill Number AssignedLSO