Bill to ban SNAP coverage for candy, soda heads to Senate

A bill to ban a food assistance program from covering candy and soda is headed to the Idaho Senate.

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday advanced the bill to the full Senate, which could be the bill’s last legislative hurdle before potentially becoming law. 

Idaho needs federal approval for the proposed ban. 

House Bill 109, cosponsored by Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur d’Alene, would require the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to seek federal approval to exclude candy and soda from foods eligible for coverage by the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

“Since many of the same households utilize Medicaid, taxpayers end up paying for the harmful cause and effect of this poor public policy,” the bill’s senate cosponsor Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, told the Senate committee Tuesday. 

Public testimony was mixed. Two supporters of the bill were affiliated with FGA Action, a Florida-based think tank that worked with Redman on his bill that would’ve likely repealed Idaho Medicaid expansion.  

The Idaho House narrowly passed the bill earlier this month. If the bill passes the Senate, it would need to avoid the governor’s veto to become law. 

— Idaho Capital Sun