ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff
	House: HHS DPA 7-5-0-0

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HB 2396: SNAP; allowed purchases; waiver

Sponsor: Representative Biasiucci, LD 30

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires the Director of the Department of Economic Security (DES) to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollees to purchase specific food items, including various meats, dairy products, juices, cereals, flours, sugars, tortillas, vitamins, water products, butter and cooking oils.

History

SNAP is a federal program that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget and help the family afford nutritious food. To be eligible for SNAP benefits, an applicant must meet specific age, household, employment and income requirements (USDA).

SNAP benefits are able to purchase any food for the household, such as: 1) fruits and vegetables; 2) meat, poultry and fish; 3) dairy products; 4) breads and cereals; 5) other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and 6) seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat (SNAP).

Households cannot use SNAP benefits to buy: 1) beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco; 2) vitamins, medicines and supplements; 3) live animals excluding shellfish, fish removed from water and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store; 4) foods that are hot at the point of sale; and 5) any nonfood items such as pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, hygiene items, cosmetics and other household supplies (SNAP).

Provisions

1. Requires DES to request a waiver from the USDA to allow SNAP enrollees to purchase any of the following:

a. frozen, fresh or canned beef, poultry, fish, chicken or pork;

b. milk, including nut milk, grain milk, organic milk, half and half, and heavy cream;

c. imported cheese, including cream cheese and cottage cheese;

d. 100% juice and organic juice;

e. eggs and egg substitutes;

f. hot cereals and organic cereals;

g. any type of flour;

h. sugar, sugar substitutes and honey;

i. rice, brown rice, basmati rice or organic rice;

j. soft corn tortillas and organic tortillas;

k. whole wheat tortillas and organic tortillas;

l. vitamins;

m. any water product that does not contain flavors, sweeteners or sugar-free sweeteners;

n. any pure butter product and butter substitutes; and

o. any type of cooking oil. (Sec. 1)

2. Mandates that if the waiver is granted, these purchases will be permitted. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires the DES Director to annually request a waiver until approval is received.       (Sec. 1)

4. Clarifies that this does not prevent SNAP recipients from purchasing items already approved by the federal Women, Infants, and Children Food Program. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Health & Human Services

1. Requires the DES Director to request any waiver from the USDA that includes the authority to restrict the purchase of noneligible foods using SNAP benefits.

2. Authorizes the DES Director to resubmit the request annually and pursue the USDA's pilot or demonstration authority under federal law if the waiver is not granted.

3. Requires DES to provide clear guidance to SNAP recipients and retailers and allow a reasonable implementation period to ensure compliance.

4. Clarifies this does not reduce benefit amounts or restrict access to eligible food or limit SNAP participation.

5. Defines eligible foods and noneligible foods.

6. Contains legislative findings.

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Initials AG                 HB 2396

1/29/2026        Page 0 Caucus & COW

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