The Everybody Eats Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 733

Short Title: The Everybody Eats Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Lopez, Hawkins, and Morey (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 3, 2025
*H733-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ALLOW THE STATE TO FULLY OPT OUT OF THE PROHIBITION ON FOOD 2
AND NUTRITION SERVIC ES AND TEMPORARY ASS ISTANCE FOR NEEDY 3
FAMILIES (TANF) BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF FELONIES AND 4
TO LENGTHEN THE PERI OD FOR RECERTIFICATION FOR FOOD AND 5
NUTRITION BENEFITS TO ONE YEAR. 6
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 7
SECTION 1. G.S. 108A-25.2 reads as rewritten: 8
"§ 108A-25.2. Exemption from limitations for individuals convicted of certain drug-related 9
felonies. 10
Individuals convicted of Class H or I controlled substance felony offenses in this State shall 11
be An individual who is otherwise eligible to participate in the Work First Program and or the 12
food and nutrition services program:program shall be exempt from the application of section 13
115(a) of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 14
P.L. 104 -193, and shall not be denied assistance from either program solely because the 15
individual has been convicted of a drug-related felony or felonies. 16
(1) Six months after release from custody if no additional controlled substance 17
felony offense is committed during that period and successful completion of 18
or continuous active participation in a required substance abuse treatment 19
program determined appropriate by the area mental health authority; or 20
(2) If not committed to custody, six months after the date of conviction if no 21
additional controlled substance felony offense is committed during that period 22
and successful completion of or continuous active participation in a required 23
substance abuse treatment program determined appropriate by the area mental 24
health authority. 25
A county department of social services shall require individuals who are eligible for Work 26
First Program assistanc e and electronic food and nutrition benefits pursuant to this section to 27
undergo substance abuse treatment as a condition for receiving Work First Program or electronic 28
food and nutrition benefits, if funds and programs are available and to the extent allo wed by 29
federal law." 30
SECTION 2. The Department of Health and Human Services shall direct county 31
departments of social services to require recertification of eligibility for Food and Nutrition 32
Services be made every 12 months, unless otherwise required by federal law. 33
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective January 1, 2026. 34