H.R. 3156 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Ways and Means, May 1, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryOverhauls assistance program with new job-focused metrics
This bill renews federal funding for TANF, a program that provides cash assistance to low-income families, through 2030. Instead of requiring states to meet participation rates (percentages of people in work activities), the bill shifts to measuring actual employment outcomes—like whether former beneficiaries get unsubsidized jobs and how much they earn. States would have to create personalized opportunity plans for each person receiving benefits and meet with them every 90 days to track progress. The bill also limits who can receive assistance (families making more than twice the poverty line would be ineligible), requires states to spend at least 25% of funds on work supports and training, and caps administrative spending at 10%.
How it affects you
If you or someone you know receives TANF assistance, you would have a more structured plan created specifically for your situation, with regular check-ins about your path toward employment. States would need to focus more on helping you find real jobs rather than just participating in activities. However, fewer families might qualify for assistance under the new income limits. The changes mainly affect people receiving TANF and the states that administer the program.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, May 1, 2025)
Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services (JOBS) for Success Act of 2025
This bill reauthorizes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through FY2030, establishes new metrics for measuring states’ performance within the program, and makes other changes to the program’s requirements.
Under current law, states participating in TANF are required to meet certain minimum participation rates, or percentages of beneficiaries engaged in work. The bill eliminates minimum participation rates and replaces them with metrics tied to employment outcomes, such as former beneficiaries’ rates of unsubsidized employment and earnings at particular points in time. The Department of Health and Human Services must publish a website with information on each state’s performance.
The bill also requires states to create an individual opportunity plan for each beneficiary and to meet with each work-eligible beneficiary at least every 90 days to review the individual’s progress under their plan. (Under current law, individual plans are optional.)
Further, the bill prohibits states from using TANF funds to provide benefits to families with monthly incomes that exceed twice the poverty line.
Finally, the bill requires states to spend at least 25% of their TANF grant funds on certain activities, including work supports, education and training, and apprenticeships. The bill also lowers the percentage of TANF funds that a state may spend on administrative costs to 10%, with an exception for costs related to case management necessary to assist in the development of individual opportunity plans.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 3156
A BILL
Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services (JOBS) for Success Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL-16) · Introduced May 1, 2025 · Social Welfare · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 1, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.”
Sections
Sections · 19
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2Table of contentsNo change
- Sec. 3ReferencesNo change
- Sec. 4Helping more Americans enter and remain in the workforceNo change
- Sec. 5Expecting universal engagement and case managementNo change
- Sec. 6Promoting accountability by measuring work outcomesNo change
- Sec. 7Targeting funds to truly needy familiesNo change
- Sec. 8Targeting funds to core purposesNo change
- Sec. 9Strengthening program integrity by measuring improper paymentsNo change
- Sec. 10Prohibition on State diversion of Federal funds to replace State spendingNo change
- Sec. 11Inclusion of poverty reduction as a program purposeNo change
- Sec. 12Strengthening accountability through HHS approval of State plansNo change
- Sec. 13Aligning and improving data reportingNo change
- Sec. 14Technical corrections to data exchange standards to improve program coordinationNo change
- Sec. 15Set-aside for economic downturnsNo change
- Sec. 16Welfare for needs not weedNo change
- Sec. 17Definitions related to use of fundsNo change
- Sec. 18Elimination of obsolete provisionsNo change
- Sec. 19Effective dateNo change