HB579 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mack N. ButlerRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Public assistance, Department of Human Resources, request of waiver to exclude soda from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program required, exclusion provided for

Summary

HB579 would push to exclude soda from Alabama's SNAP benefits by pursuing a federal waiver and, if approved, ban using SNAP benefits to buy soda.

What This Bill Does

It requires the Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources to request a waiver from the USDA to exclude soda from SNAP, and to continue requesting annually if the waiver is not yet granted. If the waiver is granted, it would prohibit SNAP enrollees in Alabama from purchasing soda with program benefits. If the waiver is not granted, the commissioner must keep seeking the waiver each year. The bill also defines soda as a carbonated beverage that contains more than one gram of added sugar or any artificial sweetener, and it takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• SNAP enrollees in Alabama would be prohibited from purchasing soda with SNAP benefits if the waiver is granted.
• The Alabama Department of Human Resources would be responsible for obtaining the waiver and enforcing the prohibition if the waiver is granted.

Key Provisions

• The Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources must request a waiver from the USDA to exclude soda from SNAP, and must continue requesting annually until the waiver is granted; if granted, the state must prohibit SNAP purchases of soda.
• Defines 'soda' as a carbonated beverage that contains more than one gram of added sugar or any artificial sweetener.
• The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health