HB228 • 2026

SNAP and TANF recipients; require those unemployed to take Test of Adult Basic Education.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE RECIPIENTS OF BENEFITS UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) OR THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) PROGRAM TO TAKE THE TEST OF ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (TABE); TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE RECIPIENT SCORES BELOW THE 12TH GRADE LEVEL IN ANY CATEGORY OF THE TABE, THE RECIPIENT MUST ENROLL IN A PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE TABE AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO BECOME COMPETENT IN THOSE CATEGORIES IN WHICH THE RECIPIENT IS DEFICIENT, AND TAKE THE TABE AGAIN AFTER COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM OF STUDY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Scott
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

SNAP and TANF Recipients Must Take Adult Education Test

This bill requires unemployed SNAP or TANF recipients aged 18 and older to take the TABE test, and if they score below a certain level, they must enroll in an adult education program at a community college until they pass.

What This Bill Does

Requires unemployed SNAP or TANF recipients who are 18 years old or older to take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE).
If someone scores below the 12th grade level in any part of the TABE, they must enroll in an adult education program at a community college.
After completing the program, the person must retake the TABE test until they score at or above the 12th grade level in all categories.

Who It Names or Affects

Unemployed SNAP and TANF recipients who are 18 years old or older

Terms To Know

SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps people buy food.
TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a program that provides financial help to families in need.
TABE: Test of Adult Basic Education, used to measure skills and knowledge up to the 12th grade level.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass during its session.
It is unclear how many people would be affected by this requirement.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-07 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/07 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services;Universities and Colleges

Official Summary Text

SNAP and TANF recipients; require those unemployed to take Test of Adult Basic Education.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 228 *HR26/R1199* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R1199
PAGE 1 (RF\KW)

To: Public Health and Human
Services; Universities and
Colleges
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 228

AN ACT TO REQUIRE RECIPIENTS OF BENEFITS UNDER THE 1
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) OR THE TEMPORARY 2
ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) PROGRAM TO TAKE THE TEST OF 3
ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (TABE); TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE RECIPIENT 4
SCORES BELOW THE 12TH GRADE LEVEL IN ANY CATEGORY OF THE TABE, THE 5
RECIPIENT MUST ENROLL IN A PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE TABE AT A 6
COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO BECOME COMPETENT IN THOSE CATEGORIES IN WHICH 7
THE RECIPIENT IS DEFICIENT, AND TAKE THE TABE AGAIN AFTER 8
COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM OF STUDY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. Each person who is eighteen (18) years of age or 11
older, who is a recipient of benefits under the Supplemental 12
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Temporary Assistance 13
for Needy Families (TANF) program and who is not employed shall be 14
required to take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). If the 15
recipient scores below the 12th grade level in any category of the 16
TABE, the recipient must enroll in a program of study for the TABE 17
at a community college in the state to become competent in those 18
categories in which the recipient is deficient, and take the TABE 19
again after completion of the program of study. If the recipient 20
does not achieve a score at or above the 12th grade level in each 21
H. B. No. 228 *HR26/R1199* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1199
PAGE 2 (RF\KW)
ST: SNAP and TANF recipients; require those
unemployed to take Test of Adult Basic
Education.
category on the TABE when taking it for the second time, the 22
recipient must again enroll in a program of study for the TABE at 23
a community college in the state and retake the TABE until the 24
recipient achieves a score at or above the 12th grade level in 25
each category on the TABE. 26
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 27
and after July 1, 2026. 28