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HB 2015

Directing the secretary for children and families to request a waiver from supplemental nutrition assistance program rules that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas would seek a USDA waiver to bar SNAP purchases of candy and soft drinks; if approved, SNAP users cannot buy them; if denied, the waiver is re-requested annually.

Stricken from Calendar by Rule 1507
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Bill Summary · HB 2015

Summary — HB 2015 (2025 session, Kansas)

Title: Directing the Secretary for Children and Families to request a SNAP waiver to allow the state to prohibit purchase of candy and soft drinks with food assistance

Main purpose

The bill directs the Kansas Secretary for Children and Families (Secretary) to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to permit Kansas to exclude candy and soft drinks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) list of eligible food purchases. If the waiver is granted, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) would prohibit use of SNAP benefits to buy candy and soft drinks. If the waiver is denied, the Secretary must re-request the waiver annually until it is approved.

Key provisions

  • Requires the Secretary for Children and Families to submit a waiver request to USDA seeking authority to exclude candy and soft drinks from SNAP-eligible foods.
  • If USDA grants the waiver, the Secretary must implement a prohibition on using SNAP benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks in the state.
  • If USDA denies the waiver, the Secretary must re-request the waiver each year until granted.
  • Applies statutory definitions of “candy” and “soft drinks” by reference to the Kansas Retailers’ Sales Tax Act (KSA 79-3602):
    • “Candy”: preparations of sugar/honey/other sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruits, nuts, etc., in bars/drops/pieces; does not include preparations containing flour and requires no refrigeration.
    • “Soft drinks”: nonalcoholic beverages with natural or artificial sweeteners; excludes beverages that contain milk or milk substitutes or are greater than 50% vegetable/fruit juice by volume.
  • The committee made only technical amendments to the introduced language.

Who would be affected

  • SNAP participants in Kansas: if a waiver is approved, they would no longer be permitted to use SNAP benefits to buy items that meet the statutory definitions of candy or soft drinks.
  • Retailers that accept SNAP: would need to configure point-of-sale systems and cashier practices to block covered items and ensure compliance.
  • Kansas DCF: responsible for submitting the waiver request and implementing any prohibition if approved.
  • Indirectly, public health actors and food banks/food retailers could be affected by program and market changes.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • DCF reported that enactment would have no fiscal effect on the agency (Division of the Budget fiscal note, Jan 22, 2025).
  • Opponents raised administrative and enforcement concerns: product-market complexity and ambiguous definitions could shift eligibility decisions to cashiers/retailers and create oversight burdens.

Legislative process / timeline (selected)

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025 (by House Committee on Welfare Reform at request of Rep. Awerkamp).
  • Committee hearing: February 4, 2025 (proponent and opponent testimony recorded).
  • Committee report: House Committee on Welfare Reform recommended the bill be passed as amended (report filed Feb 11, 2025).
  • Final action: Stricken from Calendar by Rule 1507 on February 20, 2025 (bill removed from the legislative calendar; no enactment).

Additional notes

  • Proponents emphasized potential public-health benefits of restricting sugary foods and beverages purchased with public nutrition benefits.
  • Opponents (retailers, food banks, and some written testimony from DCF and advocacy groups) emphasized implementation infeasibility, potential stigma for recipients, and enforcement burdens.
  • The bill’s effect depends entirely on USDA approval of a waiver; federal SNAP rules currently define eligible foods, and state-level prohibition would require federal authorization.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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