Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
ELIMINATE ASSET TEST FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
Senate Bill 35 as reported from House committee Analysis available at
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Irwin http://www.legislature.mi.gov
House Committee: Economic Development and Small Business
Senate Committee: Housing and Human Services
Complete to 6-14-23
(Enacted as Public Act 53 of 2023)
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 35 would amend the Social Welfare Act to remove the requirement that the
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) apply an asset test to determine
an individual’s financial eligibility for the Food Assistance Program (FAP). Currently,
eligibility for the program is determined by the income, assets, and expenses of all members
of a household, and applicants with over $15,000 in assets do not qualify. 1
The bill would go into effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 400.10d
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill would likely have no fiscal impact. Currently, eligibility determinations are driven by
the income-based assessment, and the elimination of the asset test would likely only have a
nominal impact.
POSITIONS:
Representatives of the following entities testified in support of the bill (5-9-23):
• African Bureau of Immigration and Social Affairs
• American Heart Association
• Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services
• Michigan League for Public Policy
The following entities indicated support for the bill:
• Department of Health and Human Services (5-9-23)
• Authority Health (5-16-23)
• Authority Health Motion Coalition (5-16-23)
• Center for Civil Justice (5-9-23)
• Center for Employment Opportunities (5-9-23)
• Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (5-9-23)
• Detroit Regional Chamber (5-16-23)
• Food Bank Council of Michigan (5-9-23)
1
Current FAP eligibility criteria can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-
programs/food/eligibility.
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 • Michigan Catholic Conference (5-16-23)
• Michigan Community Action (5-9-23)
• Michigan County Social Services Association (5-16-23)
• Michigan Poverty Law Program (5-9-23)
• NASW (5-9-23)
• United Way of Southeastern MI (5-16-23)
Legislative Analyst: Holly Kuhn
Fiscal Analyst: Kent Dell
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency SB 35 as reported from House committee Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 400.10
As Passed by the Senate: 400.10
As Passed by the House: 400.10
Public Act: 400.10
Senate Enrolled Bill: 400.10