Bill Text: TX HB2955 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to prohibiting the purchase of candy and soft drinks under the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-18 - Filed [HB2955 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB2955-Introduced.html
| 89R11173 AND-F | ||
| By: Gerdes | H.B. No. 2955 | |
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| relating to prohibiting the purchase of candy and soft drinks under | ||
| the supplemental nutrition assistance program. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, | ||
| is amended by adding Section 33.031 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 33.031. PURCHASE OF CANDY AND SOFT DRINKS PROHIBITED | ||
| UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) In this | ||
| section: | ||
| (1) "Candy" means a preparation of sugar, honey, or | ||
| other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with | ||
| chocolate, fruits, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the | ||
| form of bars, drops, or pieces. | ||
| (2) "Soft drink" means a nonalcoholic beverage that | ||
| contains natural or artificial sweeteners. The term does not | ||
| include a beverage that contains: | ||
| (A) milk or milk products; | ||
| (B) soy, rice, or similar milk substitutes; or | ||
| (C) more than 50 percent of vegetable or fruit | ||
| juice by volume. | ||
| (b) A recipient of supplemental nutrition assistance | ||
| program benefits may not use those benefits to purchase candy or | ||
| soft drinks. | ||
| SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective | ||
| date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human | ||
| Services Commission shall develop and seek a waiver or other | ||
| appropriate authorization from the appropriate federal agency to | ||
| restrict the purchase of candy and soft drinks under the | ||
| supplemental nutrition assistance program provided under Chapter | ||
| 33, Human Resources Code, as required by Section 33.031, Human | ||
| Resources Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| (b) If the waiver or other authorization requested by the | ||
| Health and Human Services Commission under Subsection (a) of this | ||
| section is not approved by the appropriate federal agency, the | ||
| executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission | ||
| shall annually develop and the commission shall apply for and | ||
| actively pursue a waiver or other authorization described by | ||
| Subsection (a) of this section until the waiver or other | ||
| authorization is approved. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
