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Bill

HB 2738

Directing the secretary for children and families to request or update a pending waiver application from the supplemental nutrition assistance program that would allow the state to prohibit the purchase of food commonly marketed, advertised or recognized as candy and soft drinks.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas bill directs state to seek federal waiver allowing SNAP to ban candy and soft drink purchases by low-income recipients.

Died in Senate Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2738

Legislative bill overview

HB 2738 directs Kansas's Secretary for Children and Families to request or update a federal waiver from the SNAP program (food stamps) that would allow the state to prohibit beneficiaries from purchasing candy and soft drinks. The bill seeks to restrict what foods SNAP recipients can buy using government benefits.

Why is this important

SNAP serves approximately 350,000 Kansans and significantly impacts food security for low-income families. Restricting eligible purchases could affect nutrition outcomes and food choice autonomy, while raising questions about program administration costs and federal compliance. This reflects broader debate about government's role in directing personal food choices versus addressing underlying poverty and food access.

Potential points of contention

  • Federal approval uncertainty: The USDA has historically rejected similar waiver requests, viewing broad food restrictions as inconsistent with SNAP's flexibility; success is uncertain
  • Nutritional vs. paternalistic approach: Critics argue targeting "candy and soft drinks" is oversimplified—some soft drinks contain nutrition, and restricting choices may stigmatize recipients without addressing root causes of poor nutrition
  • Administrative burden: Implementing purchase restrictions requires updated point-of-sale systems at retailers and increased monitoring, creating costs that may outweigh public health benefits
  • Equity concerns: Singling out low-income SNAP recipients for food restrictions that non-SNAP shoppers face no limitations on raises fairness questions

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

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