Directing the department of social and health services to apply for a waiver from the United States department of agriculture restricting the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits from being used to purchase unhealthy foods such as candy and sweetened beverages.

 S-3875.1

SENATE BILL 6186

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2026 Regular Session

By Senators Warnick, Christian, and Schoesler

Read first time 01/16/26. Referred to Committee on Human Services.

AN ACT Relating to directing the department of social and health services to apply for a waiver from the United States department of agriculture restricting the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits from being used to purchase unhealthy foods such as candy and sweetened beverages; and adding a new section to chapter 74.04 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department shall request a waiver from the United States department of agriculture to exclude unhealthy foods from the definition of eligible foods under 7 C.F.R. Sec. 271.2. If such a wavier is granted, then the director shall prohibit the purchase of candy and sweetened beverages with benefits provided through the supplemental nutrition assistance program. If no such waiver is granted, then the department shall request such a waiver annually until such waiver is granted.