Low income pregnant women could soon qualify for assistance under House Bill 129.
The measure would allow the women to apply to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program while pregnant; currently those women can only apply once the child is born.
HB 129 is the latest effort by legislators to support pregnant women and new moms. Last year, the Legislature approved legislation to extend the amount of time low-income Georgia mothers can receive benefits under Medicaid, the public health program that provides care to the poor and disabled, from six months to one year after the birth of a child. Lawmakers extended the benefits from two to six months the year before.