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Utah lawmakers say state law led to federal SNAP change; sponsor calls soda the program’s largest purchase
Summary
Representative Kristen Chevrier said Utah’s new law to bar soda purchases under SNAP prompted a federal waiver approval; she told House Rules the state bill was passed and the Department of Workforce Services secured a federal waiver that was signed "last week."
SALT LAKE CITY — Representative Kristen Chevrier said Utah’s recently passed law to remove soda from purchases eligible under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program prompted federal action and a federal waiver was “signed for real” last week.
Chevrier, a sponsor of the SNAP-related measure, told Speaker Mike Schultz on House Rules that the bill required a federal waiver to prohibit soda purchases with SNAP benefits. "Soda is the biggest expense with SNAP dollars," she said, arguing the purchase is nonnutritive and inconsistent with the program’s purpose.
Chevrier described the administrative steps after passage: the Department of Workforce Services completed paperwork and submitted the proposal to the federal government, which she said quickly approved the waiver.
Supporters on the broadcast framed Utah’s law as a state-led lever that prompted federal agencies to move more quickly. Schultz noted Utah was the first state to pass such legislation, though he and guests clarified other states had submitted waivers earlier and some had received approvals before Utah implemented its law.
The discussion on the program’s scope and enforcement did not include vote tallies, amendments, or implementation dates. Chevrier said the measure returned SNAP "to its proper role," but the transcript does not specify effective dates, enforcement mechanics, or a rulemaking timeline.
The segment included no detailed federal agency notice or citation of the waiver document; those implementation details were described as pending work by the Department of Workforce Services.
What’s next: Chevrier and Schultz said Utah’s example helped spur other states to act, but the broadcast does not provide a federal eligibility regulation citation or an implementation schedule.
