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 seek a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude soda from the list of eligible foods for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. If the USDA grants this waiver, the department will prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for purchasing soda. Should the waiver not be granted, the department is required to request it annually until approval is received.

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 consist of more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume. This legislative change aims to restrict the purchase of sugary drinks with public assistance funds, promoting healthier choices among recipients of SNAP benefits.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 400.1, 400.119