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Senate debate on restricting SNAP purchases of candy, soft drinks draws hours of testimony and multiple amendments
Summary
Senate Bill 79 would direct Kansas to seek a federal waiver to prohibit SNAP use for candy and certain soft drinks; the measure drew hours of debate and several failed amendments.
Senate Bill 79, carried by Senator Sandy Erickson (Senator from Sedgwick), directs the Kansas Department for Children and Families to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would make certain items — described in the bill as soft drinks and candy under the Kansas retailer sales tax definitions — ineligible for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Senator Erickson framed the bill as a public‑health measure aimed at reducing purchase of sugary beverages and candy with taxpayer‑funded SNAP benefits. "We want people to be healthy," she said during floor debate, adding that "pop soft drinks are the number one purchased item with SNAP…
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