HB553 • 2026

SNAP; direct DHS to seek waiver to allow prohibiting purchase of candy and soft drinks with.

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SUBMIT TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE A SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) FOOD RESTRICTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT REQUEST THAT WILL ALLOW THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF CANDY AND SOFT DRINKS WITH SNAP BENEFITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Yancey
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee. Therefore, the implementation date of October 1, 2026, is speculative if the bill remains unapproved.

SNAP Candy and Soft Drink Purchase Ban

This bill directs the Mississippi Department of Human Services to request a waiver from the USDA to prohibit SNAP recipients from buying candy and soft drinks with their benefits.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Mississippi Department of Human Services to ask for permission (a waiver) from the USDA to stop SNAP participants from using their benefits to buy candy and soft drinks.
Defines 'candy' as sweet treats made from sugar, honey or artificial sweeteners combined with ingredients like chocolate, fruits, nuts, or flavors. This term does not include items that contain flour or require refrigeration.
Defines 'soft drinks' as non-alcoholic beverages containing natural or artificial sweeteners, excluding those with milk or more than half fruit juice by volume.
If the USDA approves this request, Mississippi will start a project to ban candy and soft drink purchases using SNAP benefits on October 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

SNAP recipients in Mississippi who buy candy and soft drinks with their benefits.
The Department of Human Services in Mississippi which would manage the request process and implementation if approved.

Terms To Know

Candy: A preparation of sugar, honey or other natural or artificial sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavors. This term does not include any preparation containing flour and does not require refrigeration.
Soft drinks: Any non-alcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. This term does not include any beverage that contains milk or milk products, soy, rice or similar milk substitutes, or greater than fifty percent (50%) of vegetable or fruit juice by volume.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
If the USDA does not approve the request initially, Mississippi must keep asking every year until approval is granted.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/13 (H) Referred To Public Health and Human Services;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

SNAP; direct DHS to seek waiver to allow prohibiting purchase of candy and soft drinks with.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 553 *HR31/R1284* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R1284
PAGE 1 (RF\JAB)

To: Public Health and Human
Services; Accountability,
Efficiency, Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Yancey

HOUSE BILL NO. 553

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SUBMIT 1
TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE A SUPPLEMENTAL 2
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) FOOD RESTRICTION DEMONSTRATION 3
PROJECT REQUEST THAT WILL ALLOW THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO 4
PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF CANDY AND SOFT DRINKS WITH SNAP BENEFITS; 5
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Human Services shall 8
prepare and submit to the United States Department of Agriculture 9
Food and Nutrition Service, not later than ninety (90) days after 10
the effective date of this act, a Supplemental Nutrition 11
Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Restriction Demonstration Project 12
Request for the Food and Nutrition Service to: 13
(a) Waive the definition of "food" in 7 USC Section 14
2012(k) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow the 15
State of Mississippi to modify the list of items that can be 16
excepted from the definition of "food" items to include as an 17
exception, and therefore be ineligible for purchase with SNAP 18
benefits, candy and soft drinks; and 19
H. B. No. 553 *HR31/R1284* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R1284
PAGE 2 (RF\JAB)

(b) Waive the definition of "eligible foods" in 7 CFR 20
Section 271.2 to allow the State of Mississippi to modify the list 21
of items that can be excepted from the definition of "eligible 22
foods" to include as an exception, and therefore be ineligible for 23
purchase with SNAP benefits, candy and soft drinks. 24
(2) As used in subsection (1) of this section, the following 25
terms shall be defined as provided in this subsection: 26
(a) "Candy" means a preparation of sugar, honey or 27
other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with 28
chocolate, fruits, nuts or other ingredients or flavorings in the 29
form of bars, drops or pieces. This term does not include any 30
preparation containing flour and does not require refrigeration. 31
(b) "Soft drinks" mean any nonalcoholic beverages that 32
contain natural or artificial sweeteners. This term does not 33
include any beverage that contains milk or milk products, soy, 34
rice or similar milk substitutes, or greater than fifty percent 35
(50%) of vegetable or fruit juice by volume. 36
(3) If the SNAP Food Restriction Demonstration Project 37
Request is approved by the Food Nutrition Service, the project 38
shall be implemented beginning on October 1, 2026, and the 39
Department of Human Services shall prohibit the purchase of candy 40
and soft drinks with SNAP benefits during the period that the 41
project is operated by the department. 42
(4) If the SNAP Food Restriction Demonstration Project 43
Request provided for in this section is not approved, then the 44
H. B. No. 553 *HR31/R1284* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R1284
PAGE 3 (RF\JAB)
ST: SNAP; direct DHS to seek waiver to allow
prohibiting purchase of candy and soft drinks
with.
Department of Human Services shall submit this request annually to 45
the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition 46
Service until the request is approved. 47
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 48
and after its passage. 49