Nebraska lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a bill that would lift the state’s long-standing ban preventing individuals with certain felony drug convictions from receiving federal food assistance.
Currently, Nebraska law prohibits people convicted of selling drugs or possessing them with intent to sell from accessing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. It also bars individuals with three drug possession convictions, and restricts access for those with one or two convictions unless they’ve completed an approved drug treatment program.
But that could change under Legislative Bill 319, introduced by State Senator Victor Rountree of Bellevue. The measure passed its first round of debate with a 32-5 vote, with seven senators present but not voting and five absent. If enacted, the bill would restore SNAP eligibility for these individuals upon release from prison or jail—eliminating Nebraska’s last connection to a federal law passed in 1996 that barred food aid for people with felony drug convictions.
“Everyone has to eat,” Rountree said during floor debate. “It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is.” The freshman senator and senior pastor said the change could impact an estimated 1,000 Nebraska households where at least one member is currently ineligible for food benefits.
Supporters of the bill, including law enforcement, faith leaders, and criminal justice reform advocates, say it will promote stability and reduce recidivism. Only the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services voiced opposition during public hearings.
Under current rules, ineligible individuals are excluded from household size when calculating benefits, but their income is still counted—reducing overall aid for the family. The new legislation would address that issue.
Though the bill gained bipartisan backing, some lawmakers opposed it. Senator Bob Andersen of Omaha argued that former drug offenders should rely on charitable organizations instead of public aid, citing state costs already spent on their incarceration. He questioned giving more support to individuals with criminal histories.
Others, like Senators Brian Hardin of Gering and Jana Hughes of Seward, pushed back, calling food access a basic necessity. “If you get out and you don’t have food, that might drive you to do something else to get it,” Hughes said.
The bill now heads to a second round of debate. If it passes all three rounds and is signed by Governor Jim Pillen, Nebraska would become the 27th state to fully opt out of the federal SNAP drug conviction ban—joining conservative states like South Dakota, Mississippi, and Wyoming.
Meanwhile, Governor Pillen recently announced plans to ask the federal government to restrict SNAP purchases of soda and energy drinks.
Comments