Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee hears bill to seek SNAP waiver to exclude candy and soft drinks
Summary
The Committee on Welfare Reform heard testimony on HB 2,738, which would require the Secretary for Children and Families to request or amend a SNAP waiver to exclude candy and soft drinks from eligible SNAP purchases; proponents argued it aligns SNAP with nutrition goals, while DCF warned changing definitions could delay a pending waiver and that retailers would bear implementation burdens.
A Kansas legislative committee heard competing views on a bill that would require the Secretary for Children and Families to seek a federal waiver to bar SNAP benefits from buying products commonly marketed as candy and soft drinks.
Jenna Moyer, advisor in the Office of Statutes, told the Committee on Welfare Reform that House Bill 2,738 would add language to KSA 39-709 requiring the Secretary to request a waiver from USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to exclude candy and soft drinks from the federal definition of eligible food. Moyer said the bill uses the Retailer Sales Tax Act (KSA 79-3602) to define soft drinks and adopts a definition of candy similar to one used by Oklahoma, noting that a statutory change would remain in force beyond a single fiscal year unlike an appropriations proviso.
Supporters said the proposal would better align SNAP with its nutrition-focused purpose. Tim Puglisi of FGA…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
