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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

Congress Bill Would Limit SNAP Purchases by Requiring USDA to Set a Health-Based Approved Food List

Also known as: Healthy SNAP Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(4)
Snap Food Stamps
Neutral
Housing Assistance
Neutral
Child Tax Credit
Neutral
Chronic Illness
Neutral

Key Points

  • Would change SNAP so the Agriculture Department decides which foods count as eligible “food.”
  • Would explicitly make SNAP benefits unusable for alcohol, tobacco, soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts like cakes, pies, and cookies.
  • Within 180 days of the law taking effect, the Agriculture Department would write rules listing the foods and food products allowed under SNAP.
  • The agency would update the list at least every 5 years based on nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns.
  • States could ask to swap in culturally important foods, but only if they are nutritionally equivalent and approved by the Agriculture Department.
HealthcareConsumer ProtectionAgriculture

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 13, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 180 days after the bill becomes law

Agriculture Department writes the first national list of SNAP-allowed foods (and updates definitions).

SNAP shopping rules would change once the rule takes effect: some products (like soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and many desserts) would not be payable with EBT.

Around the time the new federal rule takes effect

Retailers and EBT systems update checkouts to block restricted items on SNAP transactions.

At the register, some items may be automatically denied on SNAP; families may need to separate purchases or use another payment method.

No later than 5 years after the first list is finalized, and at least every 5 years after that

Regular scientific review of the SNAP food list happens at least every 5 years.

The “allowed foods” could change over time—new items could be added, and some could be removed—based on updated nutrition science and public health concerns.

Related News

5 articles
Associated Press·about 2 months ago

SNAP bans on soda, candy and other foods take effect in five states Jan. 1

Explains new SNAP purchase restrictions taking effect in five states and situates them among repeated proposals to restrict SNAP items—context relevant to the Healthy SNAP Act’s approach.

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Business Insider·3 months ago

SNAP restrictions on soda, candy, and more are coming in 2026 — here's what's changing by state

Roundup of 2026 state SNAP restrictions on sugary drinks/candy/desserts; helps contextualize the bill’s proposed category-based exclusions though not focused on the bill itself.

C=
Fox News·11 months ago

Republican bills put taxpayer-funded junk food on the chopping block

Covers multiple proposals restricting SNAP purchases and explicitly includes the Healthy SNAP Act of 2025 (soft drinks, candy, ice cream, prepared desserts; USDA review every 5 years).

R+

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Healthy SNAP Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 561
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(6)
R: 6

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.