The bill, H.B. No. 2955, proposes to amend the Human Resources Code by adding a new section that prohibits the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits for the purchase of candy and soft drinks. The bill defines "candy" as a preparation of sugar or sweeteners combined with various ingredients, and "soft drink" as a nonalcoholic beverage containing sweeteners, with specific exclusions for beverages containing milk, milk substitutes, or a significant percentage of fruit or vegetable juice.

To implement this prohibition, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is tasked with developing and seeking a waiver or authorization from the federal agency overseeing SNAP. If the initial request is denied, the commissioner is required to continue pursuing the waiver annually until approval is granted. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature, or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()