Arizona’s efforts to tighten eligibility requirements for programs like SNAP and Medicaid hit a roadblock as Governor Katie Hobbs exercised her veto power once again. The governor’s decision halted a series of bills intended to impose additional reporting and eligibility conditions.
A federal budget bill enacted last year mandates states to meet specific criteria. For Arizona, failing to reduce the SNAP program’s “error rate” could result in losing approximately $139 million in federal funds.
Republican lawmakers in Arizona introduced a suite of legislation aimed at combating fraud in programs like SNAP, focusing on increased reporting and eligibility regulations. However, nine of these bills were vetoed by Hobbs.
In her veto messages, Hobbs highlighted that current eligibility standards are already in place and emphasized the importance of reducing costs for Arizona residents rather than introducing “needless frustration.”
The vetoed bills included measures such as a proposal to limit the types of foods purchasable with SNAP benefits and another to require hospitals to inquire about the immigration status of patients.
This is not the first time Hobbs has vetoed similar bills, as she rejected several analogous proposals last year.
Governor Hobbs, in her communication to legislators, pointed out, “The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) has already taken decisive action to improve the accuracy of SNAP benefit determinations. These include enhancing eligibility verifications, increasing staffing and training focused on accuracy, and investing in technology solutions. The legislation you sent me would duplicate these efforts and disrupt the operations of an already overburdened agency.”
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