KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Washington

SB6186 • 2026

SNAP benefits/unhealthy food

Directing the department of social and health services to apply for a waiver from the United States department of agriculture restricting the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits from being used to purchase unhealthy foods such as candy and sweetened beverages.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Warnick, Senator Christian, Senator Schoesler
Last action
2026-01-16
Official status
S Human Services
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

SNAP benefits/unhealthy food

SNAP benefits/unhealthy food

What This Bill Does

  • SNAP benefits/unhealthy food

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-16 Senate

    First reading, referred to Human Services.

Official Summary Text

SNAP benefits/unhealthy food

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to directing the department of social and health 1
services to apply for a waiver from the United States department of 2
agriculture restricting the use of supplemental nutrition assistance 3
program benefits from being used to purchase unhealthy foods such as 4
candy and sweetened beverages; and adding a new section to chapter 5
74.04 RCW. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.04 8
RCW to read as follows: 9
(1) The department shall request a waiver from the United States 10
department of agriculture to exclude unhealthy foods from the 11
definition of eligible foods under 7 C.F.R. Sec. 271.2. If such a 12
wavier is granted, then the director shall prohibit the purchase of 13
candy and sweetened beverages with benefits provided through the 14
supplemental nutrition assistance program. If no such waiver is 15
granted, then the department shall request such a waiver annually 16
until such waiver is granted. 17
(2) For the purposes of this section: 18
(a) "Candy" means a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural 19
or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts, 20
or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or 21
S-3875.1
SENATE BILL 6186
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Warnick, Christian, and Schoesler
Read first time 01/16/26. Referred to Committee on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 6186
pieces. "Candy" shall not include any preparation containing flour 1
and shall require no refrigeration. 2
(b)(i) "Sweetened beverages" means any nonalcoholic beverage that 3
contains natural or artificial sweeteners. 4
(ii) "Sweetened beverages" does not include any beverages: (A) 5
That contain milk or milk substitutes; (B) that are greater than 50 6
percent vegetable or fruit juice by volume; (C) that require 7
preparation before consumption, such as powders or concentrates; (D) 8
commonly referred to as "infant" or "baby" formula; (E) marketed 9
primarily as sports drinks for hydration; (F) suitable for human 10
consumption and manufactured as a source of necessary nutrition due 11
to a medical condition or for use as an oral rehydration electrolyte 12
solution for infants and children formulated to prevent or treat 13
dehydration due to illness. 14
(c) "Unhealthy foods" includes candy and sweetened beverages.15
--- END ---
p. 2 SB 6186