Subcommittee places citizenship-verification bill behind budget after testimony on risks for homeless residents

The Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee debated House Bill 17 10, a sponsor-led proposal to require verification of U.S. citizenship or lawful status for applicants 18 and older before receiving taxpayer-funded benefits and to mandate reporting where status cannot be verified. Committee members asked whether the bill changes existing state processes and how local governments would be affected; the sponsor said it primarily creates reporting duties and would require turning unverifiable cases over to federal authorities.

Brian Hale, chief executive officer of Neighborhood Health, testified against aspects of the proposal on practical and equity grounds. "What I'm concerned about is that this bill, as written, will lead to US citizens who were homeless and who had or [were] victims of domestic violence... They don't walk around with birth certificates," Hale said, urging the committee to preserve existing statutory protections and to avoid disadvantaging people who lack documents.

Sponsor Chairman Powers and members discussed options for assisting homeless U.S. citizens to obtain identification; Powers said the state can help citizens secure IDs and birth certificates, but emphasized the bill would require reporting to federal authorities when status cannot be verified. Committee members repeatedly noted the bill has a fiscal impact, and—without objection—voted to place the measure "behind the budget" for later consideration rather than advancing it to full finance that day.

The subcommittee did not adopt the bill or set an implementation timeline; committee members directed that the fiscal implications and procedural details be addressed before further action.