 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
VETOED
SNAP; prohibited purchases; waiver
Purpose
Requires the Director of the Department of Economic Security (Director) to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to exclude soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and, if the waiver is granted, to prohibit SNAP enrollees from purchasing soda with SNAP benefits.
Background
SNAP is a
federal program that provides food benefits to low-income families to
supplement their grocery budget and assist the family in affording nutritious
food. Nutrition Assistance, formerly known as The Food Stamp Program, is
Arizona’s program under SNAP. Nutrition Assistance provides eligible households
with monthly benefits that may be used to purchase nutritious food. SNAP
benefits allow members to purchase specific items including:
1) breads and cereals; 2) meats, fish, poultry and dairy products; and 3)
infant formula and diabetic foods. SNAP benefits exclude the purchase of
certain items such as: 1) alcoholic beverages;
2) cigarettes or tobacco; 3) vitamins and minerals; and 4) non-food items (USDA;
DES).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Director to:
a) request a waiver from the USDA to exclude soda from SNAP; and
b) if the waiver is granted, prohibit SNAP enrollees from purchasing soda with SNAP benefits.
2. Stipulates that, if the waiver is not granted, the Director must request a waiver annually until a waver is granted.
3. Defines soda as a carbonated beverage containing more than one gram of added sugar or any artificial sweetener.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
The Governor indicates in her veto message that H.B. 2165, while attempting to improve the health outcomes of Arizonans, unnecessarily deprives SNAP participants of their purchasing power and relegates them to a new underclass of grocery shoppers.
House Action Senate Action
HHS 2/17/25 DPA 7-5-0-0 HHS 3/19/25 DP 4-3-0
3rd Read 2/26/25 32-27-1 3rd Read 4/8/25 17-11-2
Vetoed by the Governor on 4/15/25
Prepared by Senate Research
April 16, 2025
MM/AO/slp