¶ Overview
In 2014, Brian Strickland voted to impose drug testing requirements for food stamp recipients suspected of using drugs despite warnings the bill violated federal law. In 2024, more than 456,000 households in Georgia relied on SNAP to afford groceries.
¶ Strickland Voted To Impose Drug Testing Requirements For Some Food Stamp Recipients Despite Warnings The Bill Violated Federal Law
¶ Strickland Voted To Impose Drug Testing Requirements For Some Food Stamp Recipients
2014: Strickland Voted To Impose Drug Testing Requirements For Food Stamp Recipients Suspected Of Using Drugs. In 2014, according to the Georgia General Assembly, Strickland voted for H.B. 772, “Public assistance; drug testing for applicants for food stamps; require.” According to WABE, “On March 20, 2014, in the final hours of the legislative session, Georgia lawmakers passed HB 772, a bill which would require some food stamp recipients to submit to drug tests–if state officials have a reasonable suspicion that the recipients are using drugs.” The Georgia House agreed to the Senate amendments or substitute 100 to 67. The bill was ultimately signed into law. [Georgia General Assembly – H.B. 772 (2014), Effective 7/1/14; Georgia House Vote 865, 3/20/14; WABE, 3/25/14]
¶ The Federal Government Warned The State Of Georgia That Requiring Some Food Stamp Recipients To Undergo Drug Testing Was Unlawful
2014: The Federal Government Warned The State Of Georgia That Requiring Some Food Stamp Recipients To Undergo Drug Testing Was Unlawful. According to Reuters, “The federal government has warned the state of Georgia that its new law requiring some food-stamp recipients to undergo drug testing is illegal. In a letter to Georgia's attorney general on Tuesday, Robin Bailey, regional administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, told Georgia that drug testing to qualify for food stamps ‘is not allowable under law.’ The letter did not specify a possible penalty.” [Reuters, 6/4/14]
- American Civil Liberties Union Of Georgia Said The Republican-Controlled General Assembly Of Georgia Was Warned The Bill Violated Federal Law, Saying It “Violated The Constitutional Protection Against Unreasonable Searches And Would Be Challenged In Court.” According to Reuters, “Debbie Seagraves, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, said the Republican-controlled Legislature was warned when the bill was being debated that it violated federal law. ‘They didn't care,’ Seagraves said. She said the law violated the constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and would be challenged in court. ‘If they require a drug test of anybody, we are open to represent that person in court,’ Seagraves said.” [Reuters, 6/4/14]
¶ More Than 456,000 Households In Georgia Relied On SNAP
2024: Across Georgia, 456,340 Households Relied On SNAP.
[U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP Community Characteristics, Accessed 4/23/26]