HB 2314 Summary

• Increases the minimum cash assistance threshold from 36% to 40% of the prior calendar year's federal poverty level, adjusted for family size.

• Extends the cash assistance time limit from 12 months to 60 months for heads of household, ineligible parents, and nonparent relative caregivers, with a hardship extension available for an additional 12 months if work and school attendance requirements are met.

• Allows pregnant women without dependent children to receive cash assistance and permits child-only case assistance to continue during periods when custodial parents are ineligible due to time limits.

• Modifies sanctions for non-compliance to include written notice and warning for first offense, notice and warning for second offense, and a 30% reduction of adult portion benefits for third offense, removing the prior 50% reduction and termination provisions.

• Prohibits the Department of Economic Security from requiring drug testing for TANF recipients and changes the retroactive effective date from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2024 for time-limit terminations.