Monitoring the Session

HB 513

Bucy Bill Ends Lifetime SNAP Ban For Drug Felony Convictions

Filed

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. John H. Bucy IIIDHouse 136

Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade

Caption

relating to the eligibility of certain persons following certain criminal convictions for financial assistance benefits and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Texas opts out of the federal lifetime ban on cash aid and food stamps, starting September 1, 2027.

This bill uses an option in federal law to stop applying the federal lifetime ban on cash assistance and food stamps for people with certain drug felony convictions. It reaches people with those convictions who apply for state cash assistance under Chapter 31 or SNAP food benefits, and it repeals the existing conditions and exceptions in the state's current partial SNAP opt-out. Starting with eligibility decisions made on or after September 1, 2027, those convictions would no longer bar someone from either program, though agencies may wait for any needed federal approval.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 89R HB 1999 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R and 89R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 89R and 90R. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

Receipt

The receipt

90R-HB513 · 2026-11-09

SOLD BY

ITEM

relating to the eligibility of certain persons following certain criminal convictions for financial assistance benefits and the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

WHAT IT DOES

Texas opts out of the federal lifetime ban on cash aid and food stamps, starting September 1, 2027.

This bill uses an option in federal law to stop applying the federal lifetime ban on cash assistance and food stamps for people with certain drug felony convictions. It reaches people with those convictions who apply for state cash assistance under Chapter 31 or SNAP food benefits, and it repeals the existing conditions and exceptions in the state's current partial SNAP opt-out. Starting with eligibility decisions made on or after September 1, 2027, those convictions would no longer bar someone from either program, though agencies may wait for any needed federal approval.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund$56,000.00

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$31,000.00
Total
$56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

Adam Loewy$20,000.00
Texas Sands PAC$17,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash
$17,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Agave Democratic Infrastructure Fund

$56,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$31,000.00
Total
$56,000.00
consulting $31,000.00

Also funds 5 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986907, 101059773, 101069326, 101072293.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$17,000.00

Cash
$17,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$17,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986907, 101032801, 101059773, 101072293.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 89R and now. Checked against 88R and 89R only.

89R HB 1999

by Rep. Bucy, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 14, 2025: Referred to Human Services

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

Caption, 89R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 9, 2026

11/09/2026 H Filed

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:34 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Subjects

Human Services--Direct Assistance

Human Services--Food Programs

Text

The text as introduced · 279 words

90R616 KKR-D

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 513

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain persons following certain

criminal convictions for financial assistance benefits and the

supplemental nutrition assistance program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Human Resources Code,

is amended by adding Section 31.0321 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.0321. ELIGIBILITY FOLLOWING CERTAIN CRIMINAL

CONVICTIONS. As authorized by 21 U.S.C. Section 862a(d)(1)(A), 21

U.S.C. Section 862a(a) does not apply in determining the

eligibility of any person for financial assistance.

SECTION 2. Section 33.018(a), Human Resources Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) As authorized by 21 U.S.C. Section 862a(d)(1)(A)

[ 862a(d)(1) and except as provided by this section ], 21 U.S.C.

Section 862a(a) [ 862a(a)(2) ] does not apply in determining the

eligibility of any person for the supplemental nutrition assistance

program.

SECTION 3. Sections 33.018(b) and (c), Human Resources

Code, are repealed.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

an initial determination or redetermination of eligibility of a

person for financial assistance under Chapter 31, Human Resources

Code, or supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits under

Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, made on or after the effective

date of this Act.

SECTION 5. If before implementing any provision of this Act

a state agency determines that a waiver or authorization from a

federal agency is necessary for implementation of that provision,

the agency affected by the provision shall request the waiver or

authorization and may delay implementing that provision until the

waiver or authorization is granted.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.