(Plain Press September 2024) Northern Ohioans for Budget Legislation Equality (NOBLE) urges residents to lobby to oppose Ohio Senate Bill 240.

   If passed, Ohio Senate Bill 240 would negatively affect SNAP and Medicaid recipients and limit individuals from receiving these much-needed services.

   One proposed provision is to bring back the modified drug felon ban, which would prevent those with felonies from receiving SNAP benefits. This provision is outdated and discriminatory Those marked with a felony conviction will already have a rough time securing a job and should be able to have access to food.

   SB240 would ban the ability to waive the time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD). Currently, ABAWD time limits may be waived due to insufficient number of jobs, longer lengths of unemployment or low wage employment.

   Under SB240 non-custodial parents would be mandated to cooperate with child support. However, parent(s) seeking SNAP services likely do not have the funds to pay for child support, and receiving SNAP may help them to have these funds.

   SB240 Medicaid provisions require applicants to submit proof of monetary income, eliminate retroactive coverage, and more. This leaves out unemployed individuals. Medicaid application processes are often long, applicants cannot always wait to be approved to access medical care.

   Overall, SB240 is a discriminatory, inhumane bill that ignores and fails to address the underlying systemic issues of those seeking SNAP and Medicaid services.

   Contact these legislators and tell them to vote NO on SB240: Senator Matt Dolan, Senator Kent Smith, Senator Nickie Antonio, Senator Matt Hoffman. The State Senators can be reached via the Ohio Senate website at: www.ohiosenate.gov/members.