Senate Bill 154 mandates that the Department of Health Services (DHS) seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks using FoodShare benefits, which are part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bill defines "candy" and "soft drinks" according to existing state law and requires DHS to take action if the waiver is granted, effectively barring these items from being purchased with FoodShare benefits. If the waiver is not granted, DHS is required to resubmit the request annually until approval is obtained.

The bill introduces a new section, 49.79 (7x), to the statutes, outlining the process for requesting the waiver and the subsequent actions to be taken based on the waiver's outcome. This legislative effort aims to restrict the use of food assistance benefits for items deemed less nutritious, thereby promoting healthier food choices among low-income households.