Official Summary Text
This bill enacts the "Tennessee Health SNAP Act," the purpose of which is to ensure the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) in thi
s state aligns with its intended purpose of improving food security and nutrition by prohibiting the purchase of candy and soft drinks with SNAP benefits.
This bill requires the department of human services ("department") to submit a request for a federa
l waiver to the United States department of agriculture's food and nutrition service to seek authorization to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of candy and soft drinks. The waiver request must include all of the following:
A justification citing public health concerns, SNAP's statutory intent, and cost savings to taxpayers.
An implementation plan ensuring that existing point-of-sale systems used by retailers in this state have the ability to properly enforce the restriction.
A strategy for education and outreach informing SNAP recipients of alternative healthy food options.
A reporting mechanism to track the impact of the waiver, including spending patterns and health outcomes.
If the waiver is approved, then this bill requires the
department to implement the restriction within six months of receiving federal authorization.
This bill requires the department to submit an annual report to the governor and the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senate and chair of the co
mmittee of the house of representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on the status of the waiver request, data on SNAP spending patterns in this state, and any identified challenges or recommendations for further policy action.
ON MARC
H 10, 2025, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1236, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following revisions:
Changes the name of the bill to the "Tennessee Healthy SNAP Act."
Requires the department of human resources to submit the request to
the United States department of agriculture's food and nutrition service
using the process established in federal law to seek authorization to exclude candy and soft drinks from the definition of eligible foods.
Requires the department of human resources to implement the restriction within one year, instead of six months, of receiving federal authorization.
Revises the definition of "candy" to, instead, have the same meaning as defined by the United States department of agriculture.
Revises the definition of "soft drink" to, instead, mean a nonalcoholic beverage that is made with carbonated water and that is flavored or sweetened with added sugar or artificial sweeteners such as corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose, or any beverage meeting the definition of a "bottled soft drink," which
(i)
is defined as any nonalcoholic beverages, whether carbonated or not, such as soda water, cola drinks, orangeade, grapeade, gingerale and the like, and all bottled preparations commonly referred to as soft drinks of whatever kind or description that are closed and sealed in glass, paper, metal, plastic, or any type of container or bottle, whether manufactured with or without the use of syrup
and (ii) exempts f
luid milk with or without flavoring, natural undiluted fruit juice or vegetable juice, cider, and pure fruit juice concentrate to which no additive has been made, with only water being necessary to be added to restore the juice to its natural state
.
Excludes from the definition of "soft drink"
any beverage that contains milk, milk products, soy, rice, or other milk substitutes, or that is greater than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by volume, or that contains less than five grams of added sugar.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 1236
By Zachary
SENATE BILL 1154
By Crowe
SB1154
003349
- 1 -
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71,
relative to the food stamp program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 71, Chapter 5, Part 3, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) This section is known and may be cited as the "Tennessee Health SNAP
Act."
(b) The purpose of this section is to ensure the supplemental nutrition assistance
program (SNAP) in this state aligns with its intended purpose of improving food security
and nutrition by prohibiting the purchase of candy and soft drinks with SNAP benefits.
(c) The department shall submit a request for a federal waiver to the United
States department of agriculture's food and nutrition service to seek authorization to
prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of candy and soft drinks.
(d) The waiver request must include:
(1) A justification citing:
(A) Public health concerns;
(B) SNAP's statutory intent; and
(C) Cost savings to taxpayers;
(2) An implementation plan ensuring that existing point-of-sale systems
used by retailers in this state have the ability to properly enforce the restriction;
(3) A strategy for education and outreach informing SNAP recipients of
alternative healthy food options; and
- 2 - 003349
(4) A reporting mechanism to track the impact of the waiver, including
spending patterns and health outcomes.
(e) If the waiver is approved, then the department shall implement the restriction
within six (6) months of receiving federal authorization.
(f) The department shall submit an annual report to the governor and the chair of
the health and welfare committee of the senate and chair of the committee of the house
of representatives having jurisdiction over health-related matters on the following:
(1) The status of the waiver request;
(2) Data on SNAP spending patterns in this state; and
(3) Any identified challenges or recommendations for further policy
action.
(g) As used in this section, "candy" and "soft drinks" have the same meanings as
those terms are defined by the federal government.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.