DES; SNAP; waiver; prepared foods

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill metadata lists an effective date as blank, so it remains unclear when this law becomes active even if passed by the legislature.

HB4101: Requesting SNAP Waiver for Hot and Prepared Foods

This law requires the Department of Economic Security to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a waiver so that people on food assistance can buy hot or ready-to-eat meals if approved.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the director of DES to request a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Allows SNAP enrollees to purchase hot foods and prepared foods only if the federal government grants the waiver.
• Mandates that the director must ask for this waiver every year until it is approved.
• Adds new section 46-232 to Arizona Revised Statutes regarding food assistance rules.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Economic Security (DES)
• People enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Terms To Know

Waiver

A request to change or ignore a standard rule, such as allowing food benefits for items usually not covered.

Hot foods

Food products that are sold hot at the place where they are bought.

Prepared foods

Food made by a store owner that needs no extra work before it can be eaten right away.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only takes effect if the U.S. Department of Agriculture agrees to grant the waiver.
• The text does not state when this new rule will officially start working after passing.
• It is unknown which specific stores or restaurants might sell these foods under the program.

Official Summary Text

HB4101 - DES; SNAP; waiver; prepared foods

Current Bill Text

HB4101 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
DES; SNAP; waiver; prepared foods

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 4101

Introduced by

Representative
Stahl Hamilton

AN
ACT

amending title 46, chapter 2, article 2,
arizona revised statutes, by adding section 46-232; relating to the
supplemental nutrition assistance program.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 46, chapter 2, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 46-232, to read:

START_STATUTE
46-232.

Department of economic security; supplemental nutrition
assistance program; waiver; definitions

A. The director of the department of
economic security shall request a waiver from the united states department of
agriculture to allow supplemental nutrition assistance program enrollees to
purchase hot foods and prepared foods. If the waiver is granted, the
director shall allow supplemental nutrition assistance program enrollees to
purchase hot foods and prepared foods.� If the waiver is not granted, the
director shall request a waiver annually until the waiver is granted.

B. For the purposes of this section:

1. "hot foods" means food
products that are sold hot at the point of sale.

2. "Prepared foods" means
food products that are made by a retailer and that require no additional
preparation before immediate consumption.
END_STATUTE