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SB61 INTRODUCED
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SB61
NRXZ988-1
By Senator Orr
RFD: Finance and Taxation General Fund
First Read: 13-Jan-26
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NRXZ988-1 12/09/2025 GP (L)lg 2025-3455
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First Read: 13-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the Alabama Medicaid Agency
(the agency) conducts eligibility determinations for
Medicaid.
Also under existing law, certain households are
categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits because of their
eligibility for other public assistance, benefits, or
services, including certain noncash or in-kind
benefits.
This bill would prohibit the Alabama Medicaid
Agency from accepting certain self attestations or
eligibility determinations for Medicaid.
This bill would require the agency to enter into
data matching agreements with certain state agencies to
cross-check Medicaid eligibility with other data
relating to income, employment, assets, and other
relevant information.
This bill would require the State Department of
Human Resources (the department) to enter into data
matching agreements with certain state agencies to
cross-check food assistance eligibility with other data
relating to income, employment, assets, and other
relevant information.
This bill would require the agency and the
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This bill would require the agency and the
department to regularly review certain related federal
data to assess continued eligibility for public
assistance and, if necessary, act on any changes.
This bill would require the agency and the
department to regularly publish data relating to
investigations of fraud and noncompliance.
This bill would prohibit the department from
granting categorical eligibility for SNAP benefits,
except as where required by federal law.
This bill would prohibit the department from
applying gross income standards or allowable financial
resources standards for eligibility for food assistance
at an amount higher than as specified in federal law.
This bill would require the department to assign
certification periods for SNAP benefits, with the
length of the period dependent on certain household
characteristics.
This bill would also require the agency and the
department to adopt rules.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to public assistance; to provide further for
eligibility determinations for Medicaid; to prohibit certain
self attestations for Medicaid eligibility; to require the
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self attestations for Medicaid eligibility; to require the
Alabama Medicaid Agency to enter into data matching agreements
with certain state agencies to cross-check Medicaid
eligibility; to require the State Department of Human
Resources to enter into data matching agreements with certain
state agencies to cross-check food assistance eligibility; to
prohibit the department from granting categorical eligibility
for SNAP benefits; to further provide for gross income
standards and allowable financial resource standards for
eligibility for food assistance; to require the agency and the
department to regularly review certain federal data for
purposes of confirming eligibility for public assistance; to
require the agency and the department to publicize data
related to investigations of fraud; to provide for
certification periods for SNAP benefits; and to require the
agency and the department to adopt rules.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
term "eligibility" refers to eligibility for participation in
or receipt of benefits from Medicaid.
(b)(1) The Alabama Medicaid Agency may not accept
eligibility determinations from an Exchange established under
42 U.S.C. § 18041(c).
(2) The agency may accept assessments from an Exchange
established under 42 U.S.C. § 18041(c), provided that the
agency verifies eligibility and makes eligibility
determinations.
(c) Except where required by federal law, the Alabama
Medicaid Agency may not:
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Medicaid Agency may not:
(1) Accept self-attestation of income, residency, age,
household composition, caretaker or relative status, or
receipt of other coverage without verifying that information
prior to enrollment; or
(2) Request the authority to waive or decline to
periodically check any available income-related data sources
to verify eligibility.
(d) The Alabama Medicaid Agency shall enter into data
matching agreements to receive and review information that may
indicate a change in circumstances that may affect eligibility
and cross-check households enrolled in Medicaid with other
state data sets, including all of the following:
(1) On at least a monthly basis, information from each
of the following:
a. The Alabama Department of Public Health, including,
but not limited to, death records.
b. The State Department of Human Resources, including,
but not limited to, potential changes in residency as
identified by out-of-state electronic benefit (EBT)
transactions.
c. The Department of Corrections, including, but not
limited to, incarceration status.
(2) On at least a quarterly basis, information from
each of the following:
a. The Department of Workforce, including, but not
limited to, changes in employment, income, wages, assets, or
disability status.
b. The Department of Revenue, including, but not
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b. The Department of Revenue, including, but not
limited to, potential changes in income, wages, or residency
as identified by tax records.
(e) At least once a month, the Alabama Medicaid Agency
shall assess continued eligibility and act on any changes that
may affect eligibility based on a review of data from the
following federal sources:
(1) From the United States Social Security
Administration, earned income information, death register
information, incarceration records, supplemental security
income information, beneficiary records, earnings information,
and pension information.
(2) From the United States Department of Health and
Human Services, income and employment information maintained
in the National Directory of New Hires database and child
support enforcement data.
(3) From the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development, payment and earnings information.
(4) From the United States Federal Bureau of
Investigation, national fleeing felon information.
(5) From the United States Postal Service, change of
address information.
(f) Beginning not later than October 1, 2029, the
Alabama Medicaid Agency shall submit enrollment information to
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' national
Medicaid enrollment database on a monthly basis for the
purpose of identifying individuals who are enrolled in
Medicaid in more than one state.
(g) On at least a quarterly basis, the Alabama Medicaid
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(g) On at least a quarterly basis, the Alabama Medicaid
Agency shall make available on its public website all of the
following data from findings on noncompliance and fraud
investigations, provided the data is presented in the
aggregate and does not include confidential or personally
identifying information:
(1) The number of Medicaid cases investigated for
intentional program violations or fraud.
(2) The total number of Medicaid cases referred to the
Attorney General's office for prosecution.
(3) Improper payments and expenditures.
(4) Monies received.
(5) Aggregate data concerning improper payments and
ineligible recipients as a percentage of those investigated
and reviewed.
(h) The Alabama Medicaid Agency shall adopt rules to
implement and administer this section.
Section 2. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term
"eligibility" refers to eligibility for food assistance,
including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP).
(b) The State Department of Human Resources shall enter
into data matching agreements to receive and review
information that may indicate a change in circumstances that
may affect eligibility and cross-check households enrolled in
food assistance with other state data sets, including all of
the following:
(1) On at least a monthly basis, information from each of
the following:
a. The Alabama Department of Public Health, including,
but not limited to, death records.
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but not limited to, death records.
b. The State Department of Human Resources, including,
but not limited to, potential changes in residency as
identified by out-of-state electronic benefit (EBT)
transactions.
c. The Department of Corrections, including, but not
limited to, incarceration status.
(2) On at least a quarterly basis, information from each
of the following:
a. The Department of Workforce, including, but not
limited to, changes in employment, income, wages, assets, or
disability status.
b. The Department of Revenue, including, but not limited
to, potential changes in income, wages, or residency as
identified by tax records.
(c) At least once a month, the State Department of Human
Resources shall assess continued eligibility and act on any
changes that may affect eligibility based on a review of data
from the following federal sources:
(1) From the United States Social Security
Administration, earned income information, death register
information, incarceration records, supplemental security
income information, beneficiary records, earnings information,
and pension information.
(2) From the United States Department of Health and Human
Services, income and employment information maintained in the
National Directory of New Hires database and child support
enforcement data.
(3) From the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development, payment and earnings information.
(4) From the United States Federal Bureau of
Investigation, national fleeing felon information.
(d) On at least a quarterly basis, the State Department
of Human Resources shall make available on its public website
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of Human Resources shall make available on its public website
all of the following data from findings on noncompliance and
fraud investigations, provided the data is presented in the
aggregate and does not include confidential or personally
identifying information:
(1) The number of households investigated for intentional
program violations or fraud.
(2) The total number of households referred to the
Attorney General's office for prosecution.
(3) Improper payments and expenditures.
(4) Monies received.
(5) Aggregate data concerning improper payments and
ineligible recipients as a percentage of those investigated
and reviewed.
(6) The aggregate amount of funds expended by EBT
transactions in each state outside of Alabama.
(e) The State Department of Human Resources shall adopt
rules to implement and administer this section.
Section 3. (a) Except as otherwise expressly required
by federal law, the State Department of Human Resources may
not do any of the following:
(1) Grant categorical eligibility for the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under 7 U.S.C. § 2014(a)
or 7 C.F.R. § 273.2(j)(2)(ii) for any noncash, in-kind, or
other benefit.
(2) Apply gross income standards for SNAP higher than
the standards specified in 7 U.S.C. § 2014(c) or allowable
financial resources higher than the standards specified in 7
U.S.C. § 2014(g)(1), except as provided in subsection (b).
(3) Grant categorical eligibility to exempt households
from the gross income standards or allowable financial
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from the gross income standards or allowable financial
resource standards referenced in subdivisions (1) and (2) for
any noncash, in-kind, or other benefit.
(b) The State Department of Human Resources may apply
alternative vehicle allowance standards in accordance with 7
U.S.C. §2014(g)(2)(D) when counting allowable financial
resources and household income for purposes of determining
SNAP eligibility.
Section 4. Unless otherwise prohibited under federal
law, the State Department of Human Resources shall assign
certification periods for the Supplemental Nutrition Program
(SNAP) as follows:
(1) A period not longer than four months for: (i)
households with zero net income; (ii) households that include
an able-bodied adult without dependents; and (iii) households
whose circumstances are determined by the department to be
unstable.
(2) A period of one month or two months for households
that the department determines will become ineligible for SNAP
in the near future.
Section 5. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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