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S 4348

Relates to requiring hospitals to provide forms in Punjabi

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Leroy Comrie

The bill would seek a federal waiver to bar SNAP purchases of soft drinks in New Jersey, with enforcement if approved and plans for education, tracking, and implementation.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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Bill Summary · S 4348

S 4348 – New Jersey Healthy SNAP Act (Summary)

Status: Introduced May 12, 2025; Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. Primary sponsor: Leroy Comrie. Related companion: A 5697.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to seek a federal waiver to allow New Jersey to restrict the use of SNAP benefits for purchasing soft drinks.
  • Grounded in public health and fiscal considerations, the act cites obesity, chronic disease costs, and the use of SNAP benefits for non-nutritive items as justification. It notes that the WIC program already excludes soft drinks as a model for how nutrition assistance programs can operate with restrictions.

Key provisions

  • Definitions
    • “Soft drink” means any non-alcoholic beverage with added caloric sweeteners or artificial sweeteners, with two exceptions:
    • Excludes beverages containing milk or a milk alternative (e.g., cow’s milk, soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, etc.).
    • Excludes beverages that contain more than 50 percent vegetable or fruit juice.
  • Federal waiver requirement
    • Within 90 days of the act’s effective date, DHS must apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for a waiver to restrict SNAP purchases of soft drinks.
    • The waiver application must include: 1) Public health justification, alignment with SNAP’s statutory intent, and potential cost savings. 2) An implementation plan to ensure current SNAP point-of-sale systems can enforce the restriction. 3) A strategy for education and outreach about healthier beverage options. 4) A mechanism to track the waiver’s impact (spending patterns and health outcomes).
  • Contingent implementation
    • If the waiver is approved, the restriction must be implemented within six months of federal approval.
    • If the waiver is denied, DHS must resubmit annually until approval is granted.
  • Reporting requirement
    • DHS must report to the Governor and Legislature within 30 days of a federal waiver decision. The report must include the federal determination, reasons for denial (if any), and DHS recommendations for further action.

Timing and implementation details

  • Effective date: The act takes effect immediately.
  • Real-world impact depends on federal waiver approval and timing of implementation (up to six months after approval).

Who is affected

  • SNAP recipients in New Jersey would be subject to the soft-drink restriction, contingent on federal approval.
  • Retailers participating in SNAP would need POS-enforcement capabilities to support the restriction.
  • State policymakers and DHS would oversee waiver processes, reporting, and implementation.

Policy context and related bills

  • The bill references WIC’s current exclusion of soft drinks as a model for nutrition programs.
  • Related legislation includes companion A 5697 and prior-session S bills (S 4621, S 2796, S 5838, S 2903).

Overall, S 4348 seeks to broaden SNAP program integrity and public health by pursuing a federally waivable restriction on soft drink purchases, with explicit implementation, education, and monitoring plans, subject to federal approval.

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

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