HB2396

THE CONTEXT: SNAP is a federal program that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget and help the family afford nutritious food. To be eligible for SNAP benefits, an applicant must meet specific age, household, employment and income requirements ( USDA ).

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would require the DES Director to request any waiver from the USDA that includes the authority to restrict the purchase of noneligible foods using SNAP benefits, authorize the DES Director to resubmit the request annually and pursue the USDA's pilot or demonstration authority under federal law if the waiver is not granted, and require DES to provide clear guidance to SNAP recipients and retailers and allow a reasonable implementation period to ensure compliance.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to set a clear legal boundary for snap instead of leaving the conduct unaddressed. It would require the DES Director to request any waiver from the USDA that includes the authority to restrict the purchase of noneligible foods using SNAP benefits, and would also authorize the DES Director to resubmit the request annually and pursue the USDA's pilot or demonstration authority under federal law if the waiver is not granted, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.