Curbing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card Advances

On Tuesday, Republican lawmakers on the House Health Subcommittee gave approval to a bill designed to help curb abuse of purchases made using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

House Bill 119, if passed by the legislature, will prohibit use of a welfare recipient’s EBT card in liquor stores, adult cabarets, casinos, and other gambling facilities. In addition, welfare recipients who use EBT benefits illegally would be subject to disqualification from the program as permitted by federal law.

The House sponsor said the proposal is needed in Tennessee to ensure taxpayer dollars are not abused and to redirect EBT benefits to where they are intended to go – to help struggling families across the state. 

The legislation will face the full House Health Committee next week. If approved, the bill will head to the House Calendar and Rules Committee before going to the floor of the House of Representatives for final passage.