Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB354: Prohibit purchase of soft drinks and candy with SNAP benefits
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act directing the department of public health and human services to request a waiver from the united states department of agriculture to prohibit the purchase of soft drinks and candy with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; establishing reporting requirements; and providing an immediate effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO REQUEST A WAIVER FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE OF SOFT DRINKS AND CANDY WITH SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS; ESTABLISHING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Short title. [Sections 1 through 5] may be cited as the "Montana Healthy SNAP Act". NEW SECTION. Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of the Montana Healthy SNAP Act is to ensure that the supplemental nutrition assistance program, previously known as food stamps, aligns with its intended purpose of improving food security and nutrition in the state by prohibiting the purchase of soft drinks and candy using supplemental nutrition assistance benefits. NEW SECTION. Section 3. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that: (1) the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program was created to alleviate hunger and improve nutrition for low-income families; (2) supplemental nutrition assistance program recipients in the state disproportionately use benefits to purchase nonnutritive items, including soft drinks and candy, that contribute to increasing rates of obesity and chronic disease; (3) according to United States department of agriculture data, soft drinks are the number one most purchased item with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits …
Sponsors
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (H) Died in Committee
- : (H) Tabled in Committee
- : (H) Hearing Canceled
- : (H) Hearing
- : (H) 1st Reading
- : (H) Referred to Committee
- : (S) Transmitted to House
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 27 yea, 23 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 31 yea, 19 nay, passed
Subjects: Social Services, Safety, Health
Common questions
- What is SB354?
- SB354 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Prohibit purchase of soft drinks and candy with SNAP benefits.
- What does SB354 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act directing the department of public health and human services to request a waiver from the united states department of agriculture to prohibit the purchase of soft drinks and candy with supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; establishing reporting requirements; and providing an immediate effective date.".
- What is the status of SB354?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Committee (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB354?
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22).
- Where is the official record for SB354?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0395
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.