Did not become law. It stopped in the House of Representatives's Public Health and Human Services Committee on February 3, 2026.
2026 Regular Session
House Bill 129
TANF benefits; remove certain restrictions and penalties for applicants and recipients.
What it does
The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-17-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM INCOME AND RESOURCES LIMITS FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR TANF BENEFITS; TO DELETE THE FAMILY CAP ON THE RECEIPT OF TANF BENEFITS; TO DELETE THE MANDATORY UP-FRONT JOB SEARCH FOR TANF APPLICANTS; TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DRUG TESTING AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE TANF BENEFITS; TO REMOVE THE FULL FAMILY SANCTION FOR REFUSAL OF AN ADULT OR CARETAKER RELATIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALLOWABLE WORK ACTIVITY AND HAVE THE SANCTION APPLY ONLY TO THAT PERSON; TO DELETE THE SANCTION FOR PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION FOR TANF BENEFITS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR TANF RECIPIENTS SHALL NOT APPLY TO THOSE RECIPIENTS WHO RESIDE IN AREAS THAT HAVE A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OR DO NOT HAVE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF JOBS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT, AND SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY TANF RECIPIENTS DURING A FORMAL STATE OR FEDERAL DECLARATION OF A NATURAL DISASTER OR STATE OF EMERGENCY; TO AMEND SECTION 43-12-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM THE SANCTION PROVISIONS TO THOSE IN THE PRECEDING SECTION; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-12-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A FAMILY CAP ON THE RECEIPT OF TANF BENEFITS; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-17-6, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH REQUIRES APPLICANTS FOR AND RECIPIENTS OF TANF BENEFITS TO BE SCREENED AND TESTED FOR CERTAIN DRUGS AND RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Sponsors
Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.
In the House of Representatives
Sponsor
Its course
January 7 to February 3, 2026, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.
Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.
Every action2 actions on 2 days
In the House of RepresentativesJan 7 to Feb 3 · stopped27 days
Public Health and Human ServicesJan 7 to Feb 3 · stopped27 days
Text
Each version as the Legislature printed it.
l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.
What happened
In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislature published it is below.
In the House of Representatives Jan 7 – Feb 3
- Jan 7Referred to the House committee on Public Health and Human Services
- Feb 3Died in committee in the House
All 2 actions, as published
- Jan 7Referred To Public Health and Human ServicesHouse of Representatives
- Feb 3Died In CommitteeHouse of Representatives