SNAP to Thrive: Shop Nutritiously and Preventatively to Thrive Act.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how many CalFresh recipients might be affected or what happens if a waiver is denied.

SNAP to Thrive Act

The SNAP to Thrive Act requires California's Department of Social Services to seek federal permission to ban CalFresh recipients from buying soft drinks, candy, prepackaged desserts, and ultraprocessed foods of concern with their benefits.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the State Department of Social Services to seek a federal waiver to prohibit CalFresh users from purchasing soft drinks, candy, and prepackaged desserts using their benefits.
• If a food is determined to be an ultraprocessed food of concern based on scientific evidence, the department must also seek permission to ban these foods with CalFresh benefits.
• Upon receiving approval from the federal government, California must implement these prohibitions within six months.

Who It Names or Affects

• CalFresh recipients who use their benefits to buy food in California.

Terms To Know

ultraprocessed foods of concern

Foods that are highly processed and contain ingredients linked to health problems based on reputable peer-reviewed scientific evidence.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what will happen if the federal government denies California's request for a waiver.
• It is unclear how many CalFresh recipients might be affected by these changes.
• The exact timeline and implementation details are dependent on receiving approval from the federal government.

Official Summary Text

SB 1134, as introduced, Strickland.
SNAP to Thrive: Shop Nutritiously and Preventatively to Thrive Act.
Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to maximize all available food choices for CalFresh recipients, as specified.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to adopt regulations, on or before June 1, 2028, to define “ultraprocessed foods of concern” and, when defining the term, to consider specified factors, including, among others, whether, based on reputable peer-reviewed scientific evidence, a substance or group of substances are linked to health harms or adverse health consequences.
This bill, the SNAP to Thrive: Shop Nutritiously and Preventatively to Thrive Act, notwithstanding the requirement to maximize food choices, would require the State Department of Social Services on or before July 1, 2027, to seek a federal waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to prohibit CalFresh recipients from using CalFresh benefits to purchase soft drinks, candy, and prepackaged desserts, as defined. If a food product is determined to be an ultraprocessed food of concern, as described above, the bill would require the State Department of Social Services to seek a federal waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to prohibit CalFresh recipients from using CalFresh benefits to purchase that food product. Upon receipt of a waiver granted by the United States Department of Agriculture for purposes of prohibiting the purchase of soft drinks, candy, prepackaged desserts, or ultraprocessed foods of concern, the bill would require the State
Department of Social Services to implement the prohibitions granted within 6 months.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF