Texas House Bill HB147

Texas 2017 - 85th 1st C.S.

Caption

Relating to the exclusion of certain resources in determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Impact

The enactment of HB 147 is expected to have a significant impact on low-income residents who rely on SNAP benefits. By not considering the value of specific motor vehicles in eligibility assessments, the bill aims to improve access to food assistance for individuals who might otherwise be denied benefits simply due to vehicle ownership. This adjustment is intended to align Texas with practices in other states that have made similar exclusions, thus promoting equity in access to nutritional support.

Summary

House Bill 147 focuses on modifying the criteria for determining eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Texas. Specifically, the bill proposes to exclude the value of certain motor vehicles from being counted as resources when assessing an applicant's eligibility. The proposed exclusion applies to the first motor vehicle valued at up to $25,000 and one additional vehicle also valued at up to $25,000. This change aims to provide relief to low-income families by ensuring they are not disproportionately affected by asset tests that include the value of their vehicles.

Contention

Although specific points of contention surrounding HB 147 were not detailed in the documents, discussions regarding changes to assistance programs often involve debates about fiscal responsibility and the potential for increased dependency on government aid. While proponents of the bill are likely to argue that removing vehicle value from eligibility calculations enhances support for struggling families, opponents may raise concerns about the implications for state budgeting and the potential for unintended consequences in program integrity.