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 a new section, 49.79 (7x), to the statutes, detailing the process for seeking the waiver and the definitions of the items to be excluded from eligible purchases under the FoodShare program. This legislative effort aims to restrict the use of federal food assistance for items deemed less nutritious, thereby promoting healthier food choices among low-income households.