SNAP Funds Amendments

Reproduced from the official legislative record. Confirm the current text and status at the official source.

03-05 15:48 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 569 Kristen Chevrier proposes the following substitute bill: 1 SNAP Funds Amendments 2026 GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor: Kristen Chevrier Senate Sponsor: 2 3 LONG TITLE 4 General Description: 5 This bill addresses the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 6 Highlighted Provisions: 7 This bill: 8 ▸ defines "ultra-processed food"; 9 ▸ directs the Department of Workforce Services (DWS) to: 10 ● define the term ultra-processed food within a certain time frame of when the United 11 States Department of Health and Human Services defines this term; and 12 ● submit the term ultra-processed food to the Rules Review and General Oversight 13 Committee for review; 14 ▸ submit a waiver request to the federal government regarding the use of Supplemental 15 Nutrition Assistance Program funds for ultra-processed foods; and 16 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes. 17 Money Appropriated in this Bill: 18 None 19 Other Special Clauses: 20 None 21 Utah Code Sections Affected: 22 AMENDS: 23 35A-17-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 467 24 35A-17-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 467 25 26

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: 27 Section 1. Section 35A-17-101 is amended to read: 28 35A-17-101 . Definitions. 1st Sub. H.B. 569 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 569 03-05 15:48 29 As used in this section: 30 (1) "SNAP" means the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, 7 U.S.C. 31 Chapter 51. 32 (2) "SNAP benefit" means a financial benefit, coupon, or privilege available under SNAP. 33 (3)(a) "Soft drink" means a nonalcoholic beverage that is made with carbonated water 34 and that is flavored and sweetened with sugar or artificial sweeteners. 35 (b) "Soft drink" does not include a beverage that contains milk, milk products, soy, rice, 36 or other milk substitutes, or that is greater than 50% vegetable or fruit juice by 37 volume. 38 (4) "Ultra-processed food" means the same as that term is defined in department rule in 39 accordance with Section 35A-17-102. 40 Section 2. Section 35A-17-102 is amended to read: 41 35A-17-102 . SNAP waiver request -- Requirements -- Reporting. 42 (1)(a) [On or before July 1, 2025, the ] The department shall submit a request for a 43 federal waiver to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition 44 Service, to authorize the department to prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for the 45 purchase of soft drinks. 46 (b) No later than Ĥ→ [three months] 180 days ←Ĥ after the day on which the 46a United States Department of 47 Health and Human Services defines the term ultra-processed food, the department 48 shall: 49 (i) define the term ultra-processed food in rule, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 50 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act; 51 (ii) submit the definition of ultra-processed food to the Rules Review and General 52 Oversight Committee for review; and 53 (iii) submit a request for a federal waiver to the United States Department of 54 Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, to authorize the department to prohibit 55 the use of SNAP benefits for the purchase of ultra-processed food. 56 (c) The waiver request described in [Subsection (1)(a)] Subsections (1)(a) and (b) shall 57 include: 58 (i) justification for the waiver, including: 59 (A) public health concerns; 60 (B) SNAP's statutory intent; and 61 (C) cost savings to taxpayers; - 2 - 03-05 15:48 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 569 62 (ii) an implementation plan to ensure that existing point-of-sale systems used by Utah 63 retailers are able to enforce the waiver restrictions; 64 (iii) a strategy for education and outreach to inform SNAP recipients of alternative 65 healthy food options; and 66 (iv) a mechanism to track the impact of the waiver restrictions on SNAP recipients, 67 including: 68 (A) spending patterns; and 69 (B) health outcomes. 70 (2)(a) If the waiver under Subsection (1) is approved by Food and Nutrition Services, 71 the department shall implement the SNAP benefits restriction under Subsection (1) 72 no later than six months after the day on which the waiver is granted. 73 (b) If the waiver under Subsection (1) is denied, the department shall: 74 (i) resubmit the request for a waiver no later than three months after the day on which 75 the waiver is denied; and 76 (ii) resubmit the request annually until a waiver approval is granted. 77 (3)(a) On or before November 1 of each year, the department shall provide a written 78 report to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee 79 detailing: 80 (i) the status of the waiver request; 81 (ii) data on SNAP spending patterns in Utah; 82 (iii) any identified challenges with SNAP; and 83 (iv) any recommendations for further policy action. 84 (b) The report described in Subsection (3)(a) shall be included in the department's 85 annual report in accordance with Section 35A-1-109. 86 Section 3. Effective Date. 87 This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026. - 3 -

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