HB1747 • 2026

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: GARCIA, GEDEON, HUSSEY, KILA, MATSUMOTO, MURAOKA, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, Alcos
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: The committee(s) on HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific definitions for 'candy' and 'sugary drink', but the bill text includes these definitions.

Restricting Sugary Drinks and Candy in SNAP

This bill requires the Department of Human Services to request federal waivers to make sugary drinks and candy ineligible for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and mandates annual reports on waiver status and implementation impacts.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Human Services to ask the federal government for permission to stop SNAP participants from buying sugary drinks and candy.
If approved by the federal government, the department must make sure that people cannot use SNAP benefits to buy sugary drinks or candy.
The bill requires annual reports about the status of these requests and any impacts on eligible foods and program implementation.

Who It Names or Affects

People who receive SNAP benefits
The Department of Human Services

Terms To Know

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A federal program that helps low-income people buy food.
Waiver: An exception to a rule or regulation, usually granted by the government.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill's effectiveness depends on whether the federal government grants the requested waivers.
It is unclear how many people will be affected if the waiver is approved and implemented.

Bill History

2026-02-03 H
The committee(s) on HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2026-01-29 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-03-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-22 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.
DHS; SNAP; Eligible Foods; Sugary Drinks; Candy; Restriction; Reports
Requires the Department of Human Services to request and implement waivers or waiver extensions from the federal government to make sugary drinks and candy ineligible foods for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Requires annual reports to the legislature on waiver status, ineligible foods, and implementation impacts.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1747

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1747

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO HUMAN SERVICES
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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"
�346-
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Supplemental nutrition assistance program;
sugary drinks and candy; ineligible foods.
�

(a)
�
The purpose of this section is to exclude
sugary drinks and candy from foods eligible for purchase in Hawaii with benefits
from the supplemental nutrition assistance program of the United States
Department of Agriculture, in a transparent, accountable, and durable manner, that
complies with federal requirements.

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(b)
�
The
department shall request any necessary State waivers or waiver extensions from
the United States Department of Agriculture in accordance with 7 United States Code
section 2026 to prohibit the use of benefits under the supplemental
nutrition assistance program to purchase sugary drinks or candy.

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(c)
�
If
a waiver or waiver extension requested under subsection (b) is granted, the
department shall prohibit the purchase of sugary drinks and candy using
supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, in compliance with the
terms and conditions of the waiver.

����
(d)
�
If any necessary waiver or waiver extension
from the United States Department of Agriculture is not granted, then the
department shall submit the waiver or waiver extension request under subsection
(b) annually until the waiver is granted.

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(e)
�
The department shall adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 to implement this section, consistent with any terms and
conditions of the waiver.

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(f)
�
Nothing in this section shall be construed to
conflict with supplemental nutrition assistance program requirements or other
federal law.

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(g)
�
As used in this section:

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"Candy" means any
confectionery product primarily composed of sugar, sweeteners, or chocolate.

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"Sugary drink" means any
non-alcoholic beverage that is sweetened with more than ten grams of sugar per
serving.
�
"Sugary drink" does
not include a beverage that contains milk; milk products; soy, rice, or other
milk substitutes; or that is greater than fifty per cent vegetable or fruit
juice by volume.
"

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SECTION 2.
�
The department shall submit an annual report
to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each
regular session detailing the status of any waiver or waiver extension requests,
a list of foods made ineligible by waiver, and any impacts of the
implementation of any waivers
.

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SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHS;
SNAP; Eligible Foods; Sugary Drinks; Candy; Restriction; Reports

Description:

Requires
the Department of Human Services to request and implement waivers or waiver
extensions from the federal government to make sugary drinks and candy
ineligible foods for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
benefits.
�
Requires annual reports to the
legislature on waiver status, ineligible foods, and implementation impacts.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.