SB217

Senate Bill 217 requires the Arkansas Department of Human Services to formally request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to exclude candy and soft drinks from the list of eligible food items purchasable through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If the federal government grants this waiver, the state is mandated to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of these items. If the initial waiver request is denied, the bill requires the Secretary of the Department of Human Services to continue requesting the waiver on an annual basis until it is approved. The legislation aims to address nutritional standards within the state's administration of federal food assistance benefits.