The bill, H.B. No. 5461, amends the Education Code and the Human Resources Code in Texas to establish new eligibility criteria for recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits who are convicted of certain truancy-related offenses. Specifically, it introduces a new subsection (h-1) to Section 25.093 of the Education Code, which mandates that courts provide a written warning to defendants who are SNAP recipients when they are convicted of truancy offenses. This warning must inform them of the potential consequences on their SNAP benefits if they face subsequent convictions. Additionally, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is tasked with prescribing the form and content of this warning.

Furthermore, the bill adds a new subsection (d) to Section 33.018 of the Human Resources Code, detailing the reduction of SNAP benefits based on the number of truancy convictions. If a recipient is convicted twice, their benefits will be reduced to 75% of the original allotment; if convicted three times, to 50%; and if convicted four or more times, they will become ineligible for SNAP benefits altogether. The bill stipulates that these changes will only apply to offenses committed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 25.093, Human Resources Code 33.018 (Education Code 25, Human Resources Code 33)