AlabamaAlabama seeks federal approval to restrict SNAP candy and soda purchases
Alabama's human resources department must seek federal permission to stop SNAP benefits from buying defined kinds of candy and soda, with any ban starting no earlier than April 1, 2027.
What it does
Alabama's Department of Human Resources must ask federal officials for permission to exclude defined kinds of candy and soda from foods people can buy with SNAP benefits.
If federal officials approve the waiver, Alabama must bar SNAP purchases of defined candy and soda and publish a product list. Stores must get at least one month's notice before the rule takes effect.
If federal officials approve the waiver, stores cannot be punished for accidental SNAP payments for candy or soda unless they have more than three such mistakes in one fiscal year.
Argument forA public list with product codes could help stores identify restricted items and reduce accidental SNAP purchases if federal officials approve the waiver.
Argument againstIf federal officials approve the waiver, SNAP recipients could lose the option to buy some candy and sugary drinks with benefits, while certain cooking and baking foods remain eligible.
More detail
The Department of Human Resources commissioner must ask federal officials for permission to exclude candy and soda from foods SNAP benefits can buy. The request covers SNAP benefits in Alabama. The request goes to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. The requested waiver must set an implementation date no earlier than April 1, 2027.
If federal officials approve the waiver, the department must bar SNAP purchases of candy and soda, and the Governor must direct an agency to publish a list of covered products. The purchase ban applies to SNAP benefits. The product list must include product codes or other standard checkout identifiers. Stores must receive at least one month's notice before the waiver takes effect, and the department must tell authorized SNAP retailers the effective date. Candy excludes listed foods meant mainly for cooking, baking, or meal preparation. Soda means beverages whose first two ingredients are carbonated water and sugar or a listed sugar; drinks with low- or no-calorie sweeteners are excluded. The waiver cannot take effect before its requested date, which must be April 1, 2027, or later.
If the waiver is approved, a retailer may not be fined or otherwise punished for accidentally accepting SNAP benefits for candy or soda unless it has more than three accidental acceptances in one fiscal year. The rule applies to retailers when the waiver is approved. The protection applies only to accidental acceptance and does not cover a retailer with more than three such acceptances in one fiscal year. The limit counts accidental acceptances during each fiscal year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 9Lovvorn motion to Accede - Adopted Roll Call 1333 House appoints Ingram, Reynolds and Lawrence
- Vote recorded In Conference Committee. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Gudger motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1310. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Ingram motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1355. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9In Conference Committee
- Apr 9Senate Concurs in Conference Committee Report (Conference Committee on SB57)
- Apr 9Gudger motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1310
- Apr 9Ingram motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1355
- Apr 9Ready to Enroll
- Apr 9EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 9Signature Requested
- Apr 9Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 8Third Reading in Second House
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1283. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1285. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Gudger motion to Non-Concur and Appoint Conference Committee - Adopted Roll Call 1262. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1284. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1282. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Third Reading in Second House. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Ways and Means General Fund Engrossed Substitute Offered (Ways and Means General Fund)Minor
- Apr 8Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1282Major
- Apr 8Reynolds 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Apr 8Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1283Major
- Apr 8Butler 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Apr 8Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1284Major
- Apr 8Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1285Passed House
- Apr 8Gudger motion to Non-Concur and Appoint Conference Committee - Adopted Roll Call 1262
- Mar 19Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Ways and Means General Fund)Minor
- Mar 18Reported Out of Committee Second House (Ways and Means General Fund)
- Mar 5Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means General FundMinor
- Mar 5Pending Committee Action in Second House (Ways and Means General Fund)
- Mar 4Engrossed
- Mar 3Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 696. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 697. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 695. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 694. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Finance and Taxation General Fund 1st Amendment Offered (Finance and Taxation General Fund)Minor
- Mar 3Finance and Taxation General Fund 2nd Amendment Offered (Finance and Taxation General Fund)Minor
- Mar 3Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 694Major
- Mar 3Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 695Major
- Mar 3Orr 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Mar 3Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 696Major
- Mar 3Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 697Passed Senate
- Feb 5Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Finance and Taxation General Fund)Minor
- Feb 4Finance and Taxation General Fund 1st Amendment (Finance and Taxation General Fund)
- Feb 4Finance and Taxation General Fund 2nd Amendment (Finance and Taxation General Fund)
- Feb 4Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 13Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General FundMinor
- Jan 13Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Finance and Taxation General Fund)Introduced
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