Bill
HB 4305
Michigan would seek a USDA waiver to bar soda from SNAP-eligible foods; if granted, SNAP purchases of soda would be prohibited.
HB 4305 Summary — Prohibition on purchasing soda with SNAP benefits (pending federal waiver)
Overview
- Bill: HB 4305
- Official title: Human services: food assistance; purchase of certain beverages with SNAP benefits; prohibit. Amends 1939 PA 280 by adding sec. 109s
- Purpose: To seek to exclude “soda” from SNAP-eligible foods under federal rules, with a state-level prohibition on soda purchases if a federal waiver is granted.
- Introduced: March 11, 2025; electronically reproduced March 27, 2025
- Status: Referred to Committee on Health Policy; first reading completed; pending further action
What the bill would do (Key provisions)
- Section 109s(1) — Waiver process and potential prohibition
- Beginning on the effective date of the amendatory act, the state department must request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude soda from the definition of eligible foods under 7 CFR 271.2.
- If USDA grants the waiver, the department must prohibit the purchase of soda with SNAP benefits.
- If USDA does not grant the waiver, the department must continue requesting a waiver annually until one is granted.
- Section 109s(2) — Definition of “soda”
- “Soda” means any nonalcoholic beverage that contains natural or artificial sweeteners.
- It excludes beverages that contain milk or milk substitutes and beverages that are greater than 50% vegetable juice or fruit juice by volume.
Who would be affected
- State department (the Michigan department responsible for human services/SNAP administration) would implement the waiver process and, if the waiver is granted, enforce the prohibition on soda purchases with SNAP benefits.
- SNAP beneficiaries in Michigan would be affected by any implementation of the soda restriction (assuming/when the waiver is granted).
- Retailers and SNAP authorized vendors would be responsible for ensuring that soda purchases using SNAP benefits are not permitted once the prohibition takes effect.
Timing and implementation notes
- The prohibition (if and when) hinges on USDA granting the waiver. The bill requires annual waiver requests if initial requests are denied.
- The “effective date” for the waiver process is tied to the amendatory act’s effective date.
- relationship to federal rules: The bill seeks to modify SNAP eligibility definitions at the state level only if a federal waiver is granted; otherwise, SNAP eligibility rules remain unchanged unless and until a waiver is granted.
Potential implications
- Public health alignment: Aimed at reducing purchases of sugary beverages with SNAP benefits.
- Administrative workload: Ongoing waiver requests would require sustained state-Federal coordination and monitoring.
- Participant impact: Could limit beverage options funded by SNAP; impact would be contingent on waiver approval.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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