SF 556 (LSB 1714XS (4) 91)

SENATE FILE 556

BY  TRONE GARRIOTT, DONAHUE, PETERSEN, ZIMMER, and WAHLS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to eligibility requirements for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN ELIGIBILITY —— PREGNANCY, POSTPARTUM, AND INFANTS.
   1.  On or before August 1, 2025, the department of health and human services shall submit a request to the food and nutrition service of the United States department of agriculture for approval of a waiver for purposes of the state administration of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, to provide the following:
   a.  Continuous eligibility during a woman’s pregnancy for a pregnant woman whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
   b.  Twelve months of continuous postpartum eligibility for a postpartum woman whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
   c.  Twelve months of continuous eligibility from the date of an infant’s birth for an infant whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
   2.  The department of health and human services shall implement the waiver no fewer than thirty calendar days from the date of receipt of federal approval.
   3.  If the food and nutrition service of the United States department of agriculture fails to approve the waiver, the department of health and human services shall submit a report to the general assembly on or before December 31, 2025, containing the cost of the department providing the following:
   a.  Continuous eligibility during a woman’s pregnancy under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children for a pregnant woman whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
   b.  Twelve months of continuous postpartum eligibility under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children for a postpartum woman whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
   c.  Twelve months of continuous eligibility from the date of an infant’s birth under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children for an infant whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
    Sec. 2.  SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN —— STATE-FUNDED ELIGIBILITY.  The department of health and human services shall expand eligibility under the special supplemental nutrition program for women by providing the following:
   1.  Continuous eligibility during a woman’s pregnancy for a pregnant woman whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
   2.  Twelve months of continuous postpartum eligibility for a postpartum woman whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
   3.  Twelve months of continuous eligibility from the date of an infant’s birth for an infant whose family income is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size.
    Sec. 3.  CONTINGENT EFFECTIVE DATE.  If the food and nutrition service of the United States department of agriculture fails to approve the waiver to expand eligibility for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and the general assembly appropriates moneys to the department of health and human services for the purpose of expanding eligibility for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, the following takes effect on July 1, 2026:
   The section of this Act requiring the department of health and human services to provide expanded eligibility for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to eligibility requirements for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC).
   The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to submit a request to the food and nutrition service of the United States department of agriculture (USDA) for approval of a waiver to provide, for purposes of WIC, continuous eligibility during a woman’s pregnancy for a pregnant woman whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), 12 months of continuous postpartum eligibility for a postpartum woman whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL, and 12 months from the date of an infant’s birth of continuous eligibility for an infant whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL.
   The bill requires HHS to implement the waiver not fewer than 30 calendar days from the receipt of approval from the USDA food and nutrition service.
   If the USDA food and nutrition service does not approve the waiver, HHS shall submit a report to the general assembly on or before December 31, 2025, containing the cost of HHS providing the expanded eligibility under WIC without the assistance of additional federal moneys.
   On July 1, 2026, if the USDA fails to approve the waiver to expand eligibility for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under WIC, and the general assembly appropriates moneys for the purpose of expanding eligibility for pregnant women, postpartum women, and infants under WIC, HHS shall provide continuous eligibility during a woman’s pregnancy for a pregnant woman whose family income that does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL, 12 months of continuous postpartum eligibility for a postpartum woman whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL, and 12 months from the date of an infant’s birth of continuous eligibility for an infant whose family income does not exceed 375 percent of the FPL.