Assembly Bill 180 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 based on the outcome of the waiver request. If the waiver is granted, DHS must implement the prohibition; if not, the department is required to resubmit the waiver request annually until it is approved.

The bill introduces new legal language under section 49.79 (7x) of the statutes, detailing the definitions of candy and soft drinks and outlining the process for requesting the waiver. This legislative change aims to restrict the use of FoodShare benefits for items deemed non-essential for nutrition, thereby potentially promoting healthier food choices among recipients.