The Massive State House Vote That Just Protected Soda and Candy for SNAP Recipients

An amendment to the Massachusetts State Senate's FY27 budget proposal would have stripped candy and soda from the list of eligible items covered by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. However, the amendment, filed by Republican Senator Bruce Tarr, failed miserably on a 4-35 roll call vote.

A Decisive Roll Call on Public Benefits

Sens. Kelly Dooner (Taunton), Ryan Fattman, and Peter Durant, Republicans all, were the only members to support Tarr's amendment.

State House News Service (SHNS) reported that Tarr's amendment (#259) "tasked the Department of Transitional Assistance to seek federal permission to prevent SNAP recipients from using their public benefits on candy and soft drinks."

Debating Health Incentives vs. Equity

"Fattman said the SNAP benefit exclusion could allow Massachusetts to unlock federal grants to 'enhance' its food aid program," according to SHNS. "Sen. Lydia Edwards said the action would disproportionately impact 'poor people.'"

The National Landscape of Food Stamp Restrictions

MassLive reported, "Two states – Arkansas and Tennessee – will start restricting these purchases in July, bringing the total number of states with enforced federally approved food restriction waivers to 12."

"Out of the 23 states with approved food restriction waivers, only 10 states have implemented restrictions so far," according to MassLive.

Those states include Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, West Virginia, Idaho, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida.

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Thirteen other states plan to enforce restrictions in the coming months or starting next year. They include Arkansas, Tennessee, Hawaii, South Carolina, North Dakota, Montana, Ohio, Virginia, Missouri, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Nevada.

Massachusetts recipients are still not permitted to purchase a hot rotisserie chicken using their SNAP benefits, but will continue to be allowed to buy soda and candy.