Bill > SB217

This bill requires the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to exclude candy and soft drinks from the list of eligible foods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is a federal program that helps low-income individuals and families purchase food. If the waiver is granted, the DHS secretary must prohibit SNAP participants from using their benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks. If the initial waiver request is denied, the bill mandates that the DHS secretary continue to submit waiver requests annually until one is successfully granted. The proposed change would take effect based on the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) definition of eligible foods as of January 1, 2025, with the goal of promoting healthier food choices among SNAP recipients by restricting the purchase of items considered to have low nutritional value.

Health and Social Services

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb217&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R