House passes HB 471 to tighten eligibility verification for Medicaid and SNAP; sponsor says benefits won’t be cut

The Utah House on Feb. 24 passed first substitute HB 471, a measure aimed at improving program integrity for state-administered assistance programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.

Sponsor Rep. Sam Monson told the House the bill focuses on "aligning how Utah administers Medicaid and SNAP," improving eligibility verification (income, residency, identity and citizenship) and preventing duplicate multistate enrollment. Monson said the measure implements work expectations where federal law allows and improves reporting through the relevant department. He stressed, "This bill does not remove eligibility categories, and it does not reduce the benefits for those who qualify." The sponsor framed the bill as aligning state code with federal requirements so that the state can continue to receive and appropriately use federal funds.

Representative Steve Eliason offered amendment number 2 to clarify that continuous eligibility remains in effect where already established; Monson described the amendment as "friendly." The amendment was accepted and the House later passed the first substitute, recorded in the transcript as 55 yes votes and 13 no votes.

Supporters emphasized administrative accuracy and public trust in benefit programs; opponents registered dissent in the recorded vote but did not prevail on the floor. The bill’s passage now sends it to the Senate for its consideration. If enacted, agencies will need to update verification procedures and reporting practices to reflect the statutory changes.

What’s next: HB 471 is transmitted to the Utah Senate. Implementation will involve the department that administers Medicaid and SNAP and potentially updated agency reporting and operations.