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By Aliss Higham
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Wisconsin lawmakers have sent Governor Tony Evers a bill to bar Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases of candy and soda.
Why It Matters
The bill, AB 180, would prohibit nearly 700,000 Wisconsin SNAP recipients from using benefits to buy candy and soda and would inject $69 million and 70 positions into the Department of Health Services (HHS) to keep error rates down and avert penalties under a new federal 6 percent threshold.
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Nationwide, 22 states have pursued or secured federal approval to restrict purchases of sugary items, signaling a broader policy shift that supporters say will focus SNAP on nutrition while critics warn of stigma, complexity, and uncertain health benefits.
What To Know
The Senate passed the measure 25-8, with several Democrats joining Republicans, and attached funding Evers had sought after a federal tax and spending law signed last year by President Donald Trump began penalizing states with SNAP payment error rates above 6 percent.
The ban set forth in AB 180 includes candy, which covers items such as chocolate bars, gummies, and mints, while soft drinks include sweetened soda, energy and sports drinks, and flavored water, excluding beverages with milk or coffee and unsweetened tea.
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Evers said he disagrees with banning candy and soda, but called the staffing and dollars to prevent hundreds of millions in penalties “really important,” describing the package as a compromise he was prepared to accept.
The bill directs HHS to seek a federal waiver to block soda and candy purchases with FoodShare benefits and allocates $3 million in 2025-26 for developing a product-eligibility platform plus additional administrative funds to run it.
Numerous states have already had waiver approvals from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that ban sugary drinks and/or snacks from being bought with benefits. These states are: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming, with implementation timelines ranging from 2026 to 2028.
While benefits are paid for by the federal government, states and local authorities distribute the benefits and manage programs locally. Waivers allow states to change certain rules in the administration of the program.
What People Are Saying
Governor Tony Evers said: “Unfortunately, thanks to changes under President Trump and Republicans’ so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ things could get a whole lot worse for folks across Wisconsin—and our state’s bottom line.
“I disagree with the candy and soda ban and think people should have the ability to make those choices when they’re getting their food, but the other provisions were really important... It’s one of those things called compromise.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, said in a previous statement regarding junk food waivers: “SNAP exists to nourish vulnerable Americans—not bankroll the products driving our chronic disease crisis. Today, we are putting nutrition back at the center of SNAP and giving millions of families greater access to real food.”
What Happens Next
If Evers signs AB 180, Wisconsin DHS will seek a USDA waiver.
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