SNAP Funds Amendments

8
35A-17-101
35A-17-102
0
SNAP Funds Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Kristen Chevrier
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines "ultra-processed food";
directs the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) to:
define the term ultra-processed food within a certain time frame of when the United
States Department of Health and Human Services defines this term; and
submit the term ultra-processed food to the Rules Review and General Oversight
Committee for review;
submit a waiver request to the federal government regarding the use of Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program funds for ultra-processed foods; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
35A-17-101
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 467
35A-17-102
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 467
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
35A-17-101
is amended to read:
35A-17-101
. Definitions.
As used in this section:
(1)
"SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 7 U.S.C.
Chapter 51.
(2)
"SNAP benefit" means a financial benefit, coupon, or privilege available under SNAP.
(3)
(a)
"Soft drink" means a nonalcoholic beverage that is made with carbonated water
and that is flavored and sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners.
(b)
"Soft drink" does not include a beverage that contains milk, milk products, soy, rice,
or other milk substitutes, or that is greater than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by
volume.
(4)
"Ultra-processed food" means the same as that term is defined in department rule in
accordance with Section
35A-17-102
.
Section 2. Section
35A-17-102
is amended to read:
35A-17-102
. SNAP waiver request -- Requirements -- Reporting.
(1)
(a)
On or before July 1, 2025, the
The
department shall submit a request for a
federal waiver to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
Service, to authorize the department to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for the
purchase of soft drinks.
(b)
No later than three months after the day on which the United States Department of
Health and Human Services defines the term ultra-processed food, the department
shall:
(i)
define the term ultra-processed food in rule, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter
3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act;
(ii)
submit the definition of ultra-processed food to the Rules Review and General
Oversight Committee for review; and
(iii)
submit a request for a federal waiver to the United States Department of
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, to authorize the department to prohibit
the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of ultra-processed food.
(c)
The waiver request described in
Subsection
(1)(a)
Subsections
(1)(a)
and
(b)
shall
include:
(i)
justification for the waiver, including:
(A)
public health concerns;
(B)
SNAP's statutory intent; and
(C)
cost savings to taxpayers;
(ii)
an implementation plan to ensure that existing point-of-sale systems used by Utah
retailers are able to enforce the waiver restrictions;
(iii)
a strategy for education and outreach to inform SNAP recipients of alternative
healthy food options; and
(iv)
a mechanism to track the impact of the waiver restrictions on SNAP recipients,
including:
(A)
spending patterns; and
(B)
health outcomes.
(2)
(a)
If the waiver under Subsection
(1)
is approved by Food and Nutrition Services,
the department shall implement the SNAP benefits restriction under Subsection
(1)

no later than six months after the day on which the waiver is granted.
(b)
If the waiver under Subsection
(1)
is denied, the department shall:
(i)
resubmit the request for a waiver no later than three months after the day on which
the waiver is denied; and
(ii)
resubmit the request annually until a waiver approval is granted.
(3)
(a)
On or before November 1 of each year, the department shall provide a written
report to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee
detailing:
(i)
the status of the waiver request;
(ii)
data on SNAP spending patterns in Utah;
(iii)
any identified challenges with SNAP; and
(iv)
any recommendations for further policy action.
(b)
The report described in Subsection
(3)(a)
shall be included in the department's
annual report in accordance with Section
35A-1-109
.
Section 3.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
2-20-26 8:05 AM