The bill amends the Social Welfare Act of 1939 by adding a new section, 109s, which mandates the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude soda from the list of eligible foods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the USDA grants this waiver, the department will prohibit the purchase of soda using SNAP benefits. Should the waiver not be granted, the department is required to continue requesting it annually until approval is obtained.

The bill defines "soda" as any nonalcoholic beverage containing natural or artificial sweeteners, explicitly excluding beverages that contain milk or milk substitutes, or those that are more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume. This legislative change aims to restrict the use of SNAP benefits for purchasing sugary drinks, promoting healthier choices among recipients.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 400.1, 400.119