Relating to the eligibility of certain persons for the supplemental nutrition assistance program and financial assistance benefits.

HB 1999 amends Texas law to allow individuals with certain criminal convictions to qualify for financial assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill removes a state-level application of a federal disqualification rule (21 U.S.C. 862a(a)) that previously barred people with specific convictions from these programs. This change applies only to new eligibility determinations made on or after September 1, 2025, and implements a federal authorization permitting states to exclude this disqualification. The bill directly affects people with certain criminal records who would otherwise be ineligible for these benefits.