10/09/2025

Senate Bill 194

Lead Sponsors: Senator Tim Schaffer

Status: Introduced (May 13, 2025)

Description: The bill defines the following programs as "public assistance benefits":

• SNAP benefits
• TANF benefits
• Ohio Works First cash assistance
• Medicaid
• Publicly funded child care

The Department of Job and Family Services is required to update its internal systems and those used by county departments of job and family services (CDJFS) to determine eligibility for public assistance benefits, including a mechanism to track and audit application information. CDJFSs will also be required to provide caseworker training on improper determinations.

The Department of Job and Family Services is required to establish rules governing the referral of noncustodial parents who receive SNAP benefits to child support enforcement agencies for the enforcement of support orders and other purposes.

The Department is required to contract with a third-party vendor to establish a process via the Department's customer service hotline through which individuals can lock a lost or stolen electronic benefit transfer card.

The Department is also required to monitor the balances of all SNAP accounts periodically and, if an account has a balance exceeding $5,000, to determine the circumstances behind the balance.

All employees of CDJFSs responsible for entering information into the Ohio Benefits portal must receive training to ensure that the proper information is collected and verified before eligibility for a public assistance program is determined.

CCAO Position: No position (as of October 2025)