RESTORE Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 5223

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

Last Updated

2026-06-19T08:06:10Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The RESTORE Act of 2025 aims to remove federal and state barriers that prevent individuals with drug-related convictions from accessing food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps). It supports the re-entry of formerly incarcerated people into society by ensuring they can receive essential nutrition benefits, promoting stability and reducing potential recidivism.

Key Provisions

• Amendments to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA):
• Limits lifetime bans on federal benefits for drug felons to only the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, explicitly removing such bans for SNAP and other non-TANF programs.
• Updates definitions and clarifies that states cannot impose their own eligibility restrictions on SNAP based on drug convictions; any such state laws, policies, or regulations are invalidated.
• Amendments to the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (which governs SNAP):
• Expands the definition of a "household" eligible for SNAP to include people who are currently incarcerated but scheduled for release from jail or prison within 30 days. This allows pre-release planning for benefits to begin sooner.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Under current PRWORA rules, individuals convicted of drug felonies face a lifetime ban from SNAP unless a state chooses to lift it (about half of states have done so). The bill federally mandates eligibility for SNAP, overriding all state-level bans and making access uniform nationwide.
• The addition of soon-to-be-released incarcerated individuals to SNAP households is a new provision, shifting from post-release application to proactive inclusion before release, which streamlines the process.
• These changes narrow PRWORA's scope, focusing its restrictions solely on TANF while broadening access to nutrition programs.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Low-income individuals with drug convictions (estimated at over 1 million affected nationwide) gain easier access to SNAP benefits, potentially improving food security, health, and employment prospects during re-entry. Families of these individuals may also benefit indirectly through household eligibility expansions.
• On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers SNAP, will need to update guidance and systems to enforce federal eligibility rules and handle pre-release applications. States may face administrative adjustments, as their restrictive policies become unenforceable, possibly increasing SNAP enrollment and costs (though federal funding covers benefits).
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic welfare policy.
• Broader societal effects could include reduced reliance on emergency services and lower recidivism rates, based on studies of similar re-entry supports.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Individuals with Drug Convictions: Primary beneficiaries, including those recently released or nearing release from incarceration.
• Families and Households: Extended eligibility may help support dependents, reducing poverty cycles.
• State and Federal Agencies: USDA for program administration; state welfare offices for compliance and processing; the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for TANF-related adjustments.
• Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on criminal justice reform, hunger relief (e.g., Feeding America), and re-entry support will likely see expanded reach.
• Taxpayers: Potential increase in federal SNAP spending, offset by long-term savings from improved re-entry outcomes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes federal preemption (supremacy of national law over state law) under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, nullifying conflicting state SNAP restrictions without needing state opt-ins. This could lead to lawsuits if states challenge the override.
• Constitutional: Aligns with equal protection principles by reducing discriminatory barriers based on criminal history, though it maintains some restrictions (e.g., on TANF). No major First Amendment or due process issues apparent.
• Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Cohen, D-TN, and Rutherford, R-FL) signals cross-aisle support for criminal justice and anti-poverty reforms. It builds on prior state-level changes and could influence future welfare expansions, but may face opposition from "tough on crime" advocates concerned about costs or incentives. Referred to Agriculture and Ways and Means Committees, indicating focus on nutrition policy and fiscal impacts.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

Cosponsors (8)

Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
• 2025-09-09: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-09-09: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-09-09: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-09 — PDF (3 pages)