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State-level changes coming to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are restricting what recipients in some states can purchase, and those restrictions go into effect this week.
The federal program, which provides benefits to supplement food budgets for low-income families, has long excluded items like alcohol, tobacco, and ready-to-eat hot foods. But now, as states are implementing their own SNAP benefit restrictions, they're resulting in confusing and often contrasting rules that are causing issues for recipients and retailers.
Here's what you should know about the changing state-level SNAP restrictions to prepare yourself financially for their implications.
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The states restricting SNAP purchases
To date, 22 states have had waivers approved allowing the states to restrict which foods can be purchased with SNAP benefits. These are the first state-level restrictions ever placed on SNAP food purchases since the program's founding in 1964.
Previous waiver requests, such as requests to prohibit recipients from using SNAP to buy expensive meats, have been denied by the USDA. But the Trump administration has encouraged states to apply for these waivers, which have been approved and will be implemented this week.
Why the waivers are being approved
The Trump administration began granting SNAP waivers in 2025, and the waivers fall under the USDA's ability to test how excluding certain foods impacts health and nutrition.
The waivers implemented will last for two years, at which point they can be extended for an additional three years. Each state is required to evaluate the impact that the changes have.
Many of the states have moved to ban foods like soda, but each state has a different definition of the banned foods. Here are just a few of the state SNAP restrictions.
Texas
Beginning April 1, Texas has banned the use of SNAP benefits to purchase sweetened drinks and candy. The state defines a sweetened drink as being a non-alcoholic beverage made with water containing five grams or more of added sugar, or any amount of artificial sweetener. Exceptions are made for milk products, medical-grade electrolyte drinks, and drinks containing more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice.
Candy excludes products used exclusively for cooking, like cake sprinkles, or snack items.
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West Virginia
West Virginia implemented a ban on SNAP soda purchases on January 1, 2026. The ban excludes carbonated water without sweeteners or flavoring.
Though the ban was implemented in January, retailers were given until April 1, 2026 to comply, so SNAP recipients may notice this ban implemented this week.
Florida
Florida implemented a larger ban, excluding soda, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed prepared desserts from SNAP purchases. Unlike Texas's ban, Florida's ban does not specify that items used for baking are excluded from the "candy" categorization.
Florida defines ultra-processed prepared desserts as being shelf-stable, ready-to-eat, pre-packaged sweet foods intended for immediate consumption.
Colorado
Colorado has applied for a waiver to prevent SNAP benefits from being used to buy soft drinks. The waiver would prohibit using SNAP benefits to purchase soda, sweetened iced teas and coffees, sports drinks, energy drinks with added sugar or artificial sweeteners, and more.
Though the waiver has been approved by the USDA, its implementation has been delayed, pending a Colorado Department of Human Services vote.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma implemented a February 15, 2026 ban on soft drinks and candy. The soft drink definition includes sodas, teas, punches, lemonades, sports and energy beverages, flavored waters, and fruit drinks that aren't 100% juice.
Oklahoma's definition of candy includes items like chocolate bars, caramels, and mints. However, it also includes non-bakery items that are dipped, coated, or covered in chocolate, yogurt, or a candy coating.
Conflicting information
The state-level restrictions are, at best, confusing. In Idaho and Louisiana, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase a chocolate-covered granola bar. In Oklahoma, that same purchase is banned. The result is a disjointed approach to promoting nutrition among SNAP recipients, despite the fact that the USDA approved all of the waivers across the 22 states.
Challenges for retailers
The new restrictions may cause challenges for SNAP recipients, but they'll certainly cause challenges for retailers. Small grocery stores face significant costs in implementing these new restrictions, and if they can't successfully regulate SNAP purchases, those retailers could lose their SNAP authorization.
Large retailers spanning multiple states face the balancing act of identifying which state issued each customer's SNAP EBT card, which will affect which products that customer is allowed to buy. It's a disjointed system that could be full of issues.
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Bottom line
Nearly half of the states now have additional SNAP restrictions in effect or in the works, but some advocates have raised concerns about the effect the restrictions will have on beneficiaries. In areas like food deserts, where fresh produce may not be readily available, restricting food choices makes shopping harder for beneficiaries. Additionally, transportation limitations and the fact that nutritious food is more expensive further limit beneficiaries' food choices.
If you or a loved one rely on SNAP, be sure to check your state's SNAP website for any updates and to verify if you need to be aware of new restrictions. Being prepared may help you strategically use your SNAP dollars and lower your financial stress.
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