HB4730ham001 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Dagmara Avelar

Filed: 3/5/2026

10400HB4730ham001 LRB104 17647 KTG 35124 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 4730

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 4730 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by adding Section 12-4.13f as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/12-4.13f new)

Sec. 12-4.13f. Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program.

(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, "SNAP benefits" refers to both SNAP benefits provided under Chapter 51 of Title 7 of the United States Code, and SNAP benefits provided under Article XVI of this Code.

(b) Eligibility. Subject to available funding, the Department of Human Services shall establish a Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program to provide FRESH benefits to individuals subject to termination of their SNAP benefits, or a reduction in their household's monthly SNAP benefit allotment, if the termination or reduction in SNAP benefits occurred as a result of the individual failing to meet federal SNAP work requirements.

(c) Payment amount. Individuals eligible for FRESH benefits shall be provided a one-time lump sum payment equal to $600. Multiple individuals within the same SNAP household may receive FRESH benefits as set forth in subsection (e).

(d) Issuance.

(1) The Department of Human Services shall issue FRESH benefits to eligible individuals automatically. The Department shall not require any application, action, or additional information from eligible individuals to receive FRESH benefits.

(2) Where the reduction or termination of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b) occurred on or after May 1, 2026, but prior to the first of the month following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Department shall provide FRESH benefits within 10 calendar days.

(3) Where the reduction or termination of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b) occurred on or after the first of the month following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, the Department shall immediately issue FRESH benefits upon the effective date of the termination or reduction of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b).

(e) Individuals eligible for FRESH benefits shall be limited to one issuance of FRESH benefits per individual subject to a reduction or termination of SNAP benefits as set forth in subsection (b). Multiple individuals within the same SNAP household may receive FRESH benefits.

(f) FRESH benefits under this Section shall be provided to eligible individuals in the form of cash benefits distributed via disbursement to an Electronic Benefit Transfer card.

(g) Data reporting. The Department shall publish monthly data on the number of individuals who have received FRESH benefits and the amount of FRESH benefits issued to those individuals. The Department shall further provide this data as part of its annual report to the General Assembly. The report shall exclude any personally identifiable information.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, and to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, for purposes of determining eligibility and the amount of other assistance under this Code, the Department of Human Services and local governmental units administering assistance under this Code, shall exclude from consideration any FRESH benefits provided under this Section.

(i) Program termination. The provisions of this Section are inoperative on and after July 1, 2027.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".