MONTGOMERY — Members of the Alabama Senate passed legislation on Tuesday requiring the state to apply for a waiver from the federal government to exclude candy and soda as eligible purchases under the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The bill passed by a 24-2 margin.
The bill by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) would require the Department of Human Resources to request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to exclude candy and soda from the definition of eligible food for purposes of SNAP benefits.
If the waiver is granted, the bill would require the department to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits.
“It’s primarily about obesity, particularly in the Medicaid program. You find a lot of SNAP participants are on Medicaid,” Orr told reporters on Tuesday. “This is just a very small step that may help the obesity rate in our state. We’re one of the most obese states in the country. Hopefully, particularly among children, it might have a small impact.”
The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
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