Gina Thompson, Intern
The League is thrilled to report progress on one of our longstanding policy priorities: eliminating Michigan’s ban on food assistance for people with multiple drug felony convictions. We’re proud to be a part of Hungry for Justice (HFJ), a new coalition calling for this and other reforms to Michigan’s food assistance program that have been needed for a long time and are now even more urgent because of the COVID-19 crisis.
Hungry for Justice has played a key advocacy role in moving Senate Bill 1006–the legislation to repeal the drug felony ban–closer to the finish line. We join our HFJ partners in thanking Senator Jim Ananich (D-Flint) for sponsoring the bill and the Senate Committee on Families, Seniors, and Veterans for sending it to the full Senate for a vote.
Under federal welfare reform legislation enacted in 1996, states may permanently ban people with felony drug convictions from benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), regardless of demonstrated need. Michigan’s lifetime ban applies to people with felony convictions from two or more separate incidents of drug possession, use, or distribution. At least 26 other states have completely removed the ban on SNAP assistance, with Virginia being the latest to join in 2020.
As our new fact sheet explains, this lifetime restriction on SNAP unequally impacts Michiganders who are already vulnerable due to systemic biases such as the over-policing of communities of color, and the lack of support services available for people who are disabled. People impacted by this lifetime ban are more likely to have a disability. In Michigan jails, 4 in 5 people have a mental illness, with 1 in 3 requiring medication to treat it. Additionally, the likelihood of having a disability increases with age and the racial disparity also widens with age, meaning African Americans are more likely to have a disability in every age group compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Preventing people with disabilities from accessing food, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, can cause lasting health problems, malnutrition, and weakened immune systems. This is a cruel punishment considering COVID-19 is already impacting the Black community at a disproportionate level.
Disability is said to be “criminalized” because instead of receiving needed support services, people are often pushed into the criminal justice system and punished. The most common disabilities among incarcerated people are related to cognition and mental health. Michiganders returning to the community after drug-related incarceration are presently barred from receiving support services such as food assistance, and it reduces their ability to provide for themselves without community program assistance.
Many available reentry programs aren’t designed to meet the needs of participants with a disability. Finding employment is difficult due to discrimination against formerly incarcerated people and people with disabilities. Access to SNAP supports a successful return to the community because it allows individuals to take a step towards self-sufficiency instead of relying on charity, altruism, and community assistance.
A criminal record also impacts future earnings — especially for people with disabilities, who are already unemployed at nearly three times the national average, and when working, are paid only 63 cents for every dollar compared to workers without disabilities. Furthermore, African Americans who are disabled have a lower employment rate of 25% compared to the average of 33% for all people with disabilities.
Barriers like the lifetime ban on SNAP assistance for people who were formerly incarcerated punish individuals a second time, long after they have settled their consequences with the criminal justice system. Michiganders convicted of drug crimes serve an average sentence of 6.4 years.
This is not just a punishment for the individual, but also for their family if they are a parent or caregiver. Extending SNAP to households moving forward after drug-related incarceration would keep more children and people with disabilities out of poverty and ensure families can stay together.
Parents are more likely to plead guilty to drug felonies in order to avoid separation from their families. Women are more likely to solely parent their children compared to men. Nationwide, 80% of women in jails and 60% of women in prisons have dependent children. Women are also more likely than men to be incarcerated with a drug offense.
The SNAP ban indirectly punishes the children of individuals who have been incarcerated for drug-related offenses. Allowing a parent to count towards the average monthly household benefit would ultimately mean more food in the house available for their children. More than half of Michigander SNAP participants are in families with children, and 40% are in families that include an elderly or disabled person.
Full eligibility for SNAP benefits reduces the probability that someone with a drug conviction will return to prison within one year by 13.1%. The average monthly SNAP benefit in Michigan is $1.32 per person per meal. This is a seemingly small investment with an immense impact on success for returning citizens, their children, and the rest of the community.
While the momentum this long-overdue reform has gained recently is exciting, we can’t stop to rest just yet. Senate Bill 1006 still needs the full Senate’s approval and then must go through the whole process again in the House. You can help us get it all the way to Governor Whitmer’s desk by contacting your state senators and representatives and urging them to support the bill.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
