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SB2531 • 2026

SNAP benefits; require the Department of Human Services to request a waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks.

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-1-29.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SUBMIT A FEDERAL WAIVER APPLICATION TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF SOFT DRINKS AND CANDY WITH SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (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
Rhodes
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

SNAP Benefits: Candy and Soft Drinks Ban

This bill requires the Mississippi Department of Human Services to apply for a federal waiver that would stop people using SNAP benefits from buying candy or soft drinks.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines what 'candy' means in this law, including examples but not items with flour or needing refrigeration.
  • Defines what 'soft drinks' mean in the bill, which includes sweetened non-alcoholic beverages except those containing milk or certain juice-based drinks.
  • Requires the Department of Human Services to ask for a federal waiver from USDA to ban SNAP benefits being used to buy candy and soft drinks.
  • If the waiver is not granted initially, the department must keep asking every year until it gets approved.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who use SNAP benefits
  • The Mississippi Department of Human Services

Terms To Know

SNAP
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal program that helps low-income people buy food.
Waiver
An exception to the usual rules allowed by a government agency

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
  • It is unclear if the USDA will grant such a waiver.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Public Health and Welfare

Official Summary Text

SNAP benefits; require the Department of Human Services to request a waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2531 *SS08/R31.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R31.1
PAGE 1 (baf\kr)

To: Public Health and
Welfare
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Rhodes

SENATE BILL NO. 2531

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-1-29.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SUBMIT A 2
FEDERAL WAIVER APPLICATION TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF SOFT DRINKS 3
AND CANDY WITH SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) 4
BENEFITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 7
43-1-29.2, Mississippi Code of 1972: 8
43-1-29.2. (1) As used in the section, the following terms 9
shall have the meaning ascribed herein: 10
(a) "Candy" means any preparation of sugar, honey, or 11
other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with 12
chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the 13
form of bars, drops or pieces, but does not include any 14
preparation containing flour and does not include any item 15
requiring refrigeration. 16
(b) "Soft drinks" means any nonalcoholic beverage that 17
contains natural or artificial sweeteners, but does not include 18
any beverage that contains milk or milk products, soy, rice or 19
S. B. No. 2531 *SS08/R31.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R31.1
PAGE 2 (baf\kr)
ST: SNAP benefits; require the Department of
Human Services to request a waiver to prohibit
the purchase of candy or soft drinks.
similar milk substitutes, or greater than fifty percent (50%) 20
vegetable or fruit juice by volume. 21
(2) The Department of Human Services is hereby directed to 22
develop and submit a request to the United States Department of 23
Agriculture (USDA) for a waiver that will permit the Department of 24
Human Services to prohibit the purchase of soft drinks and candy 25
using Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. 26
This application shall adhere to any USDA guidelines for SNAP 27
waiver requests. 28
(3) If a waiver under subsection (2) of this section is not 29
granted or if a previous or existing waiver is not in effect or is 30
rescinded, the Department of Human Services shall request such a 31
waiver annually until such waiver is granted. The Department of 32
Human Services shall submit the initial waiver request no later 33
than ninety (90) days after the effective date of this act. 34
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 35
and after its passage. 36