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Senate committee passes SB79 as amended to seek USDA waiver excluding soft drinks and candy from SNAP
Summary
The Senate Committee on Government Efficiency voted to pass Senate Bill 79, as amended, directing the Secretary for Children and Families to seek a USDA waiver to exclude soft drinks and candy from the definition of SNAP-eligible foods; committee approved a technical amendment and then voted the bill out favorably.
Senate Bill 79, as amended, would require the Kansas Secretary for Children and Families to request a U.S. Department of Agriculture waiver to exclude soft drinks and candy from the definition of eligible foods under SNAP, a reviser told the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency.
The reviser summarized the bill and a technical fix to the statutory cross-reference before the committee took two voice votes. A technical amendment that corrected the statute citation was moved by Senator Thompson and seconded by Senator Murphy; the amendment passed on a voice vote. Senator Thompson then moved, and Senator Murphy seconded, that the committee pass SB79 as amended favorably; the motion passed on a voice vote.
Supporters and opponents debated the policy and practical implications during committee remarks. Proponents framed the measure as promoting healthier purchases with taxpayer funds; Senator Thompson said taxpayers should expect “good healthy foods” when public benefits are used. Opponents and some committee members raised concerns about efficacy and unintended consequences, noting research and organizational testimony presented in the hearing. Karen Siebert of Harvesters Kansas Food Bank testified earlier in the day on SNAP in a separate hearing and opposed measures that could reduce responsiveness or impede existing USDA requirements.
Committee members discussed implementation details raised during the hearing, such as store labeling and the practical effects on independent grocers. Senator Alley described shelf labeling practices at his local grocery store noting SNAP and WIC identifiers are already displayed, and other members suggested the mechanics of removing or changing labels would likely be manageable. Several members also cautioned against overreach; Senator Thomas likened the proposal to prior debates over school-lunch rules and urged caution about imposing food restrictions.
The committee approved the amendment and then passed the bill out of committee as amended by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the hearing transcript.
