Healthy SNAP Act of 2025
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (13 Feb 2025): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
What this bill does
The Healthy SNAP Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Mike Lee, would change the types of food that can be purchased with SNAP benefits. Specifically, it would prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts like cakes, pies, and cookies.
The bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a list of eligible foods and food products based on nutrition research, promoting health, and considering cultural eating patterns. The USDA must also ensure these foods have appropriate fat, sugar, and salt content, and review this list at least every five years. State agencies could substitute nutritionally equivalent foods with USDA approval to accommodate different cultural diets.
This bill is currently in its early stages, having been introduced in the Senate on February 13, 2025. It has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for further consideration.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Healthy SNAP Act of 2025
This bill amends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to redefine the foods eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.
Under the bill, SNAP benefits may not be used for soft drinks, candy, ice cream, or prepared desserts, such as cakes, pies, cookies, or similar products.
Further, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must designate by regulation foods and food products to include in the SNAP definition of the term food. USDA must consider food and products that (1) based on nutrition research, contain nutrients lacking in the diets of people in the United States; and (2) promote the health of the population served by SNAP, based on relevant nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. USDA must also, to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the fat, sugar, and salt content of the food and food products are appropriate. At least every five years, USDA must review and amend the list.
In addition, prepared meals purchased with SNAP benefits must have nutritional values consistent with standards developed by USDA for the list of food and food products.
A state agency may substitute different foods for food USDA designated under this bill, with USDA approval, so long as the foods are nutritionally equivalent; this is permitted to allow for different cultural eating patterns.
Timeline
13 Feb 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Common questions
- What does S. 561 do?
- The Healthy SNAP Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Mike Lee, would change the types of food that can be purchased with SNAP benefits. Specifically, it would prohibit the use of SNAP benefits for soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts like cakes, pies, and cookies. The bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a list of eligible foods and food products based on nutrition research, promoting health, and considering cultural eating patterns. The USDA must also ensure these foods have appropriate fat, sugar, and salt content, and review this list at least every five years. State agencies could substitute nutritionally equivalent foods with USDA approval to accommodate different cultural diets. This bill is currently in its early stages, having been introduced in the Senate on February 13, 2025. It has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for further consideration.
- Has S. 561 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 561. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 561?
- S. 561 was sponsored by Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT), with 6 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 561?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. (13 Feb 2025).
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