HF 1900 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Family Investment Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits restrictions removed for individuals convicted of drug crimes.

Minnesota bill HF 1900 changes eligibility rules for public assistance benefits by modifying which drug-related offenses affect an applicant's or participant's benefits. It requires that individuals convicted of a felony-level drug offense within the past ten years may face random drug testing and must receive benefits for housing and utilities through vendors (not cash), unless they are applying only for SNAP benefits. The bill specifically excludes cannabis, marijuana, or THC-related offenses from these restrictions. This directly affects people applying for or receiving public assistance who have recent felony drug convictions, including those seeking SNAP benefits alone.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 6 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove restrictions on public assistance benefits for individuals convicted of certain drug crimes, allowing them to receive Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if they are otherwise eligible. The changes also update the bill's title and repeal a previous statute that prohibited benefits for drug offenders.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only affecting SNAP benefits to also affecting MFIP benefits, and it now explicitly repeals the statute that previously barred drug offenders from receiving assistance.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the ban on MFIP benefits for individuals convicted of felony-level drug offenses within the last ten years, allowing them to receive aid if they meet other requirements.

Removed the ban on SNAP benefits for individuals convicted of felony-level drug offenses within the last ten years, maintaining existing rules for this program.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted the requirement that benefits for drug offenders must be paid in vendor form for shelter and utilities.

Removed the specific provision stating that convicted applicants or participants may be subject to random drug testing.

DEFINITION

Repealed the entire statute (256D.024, subdivision 1) that previously prohibited drug offenders from receiving benefits.

SCOPE

Updated the bill title to reflect that it now relates to public benefits in general rather than just public assistance.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Children and Families Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors