Public assistance, Department of Human Resources, request of waiver to exclude soda from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program required, exclusion provided for

HB 579 requires Alabama's Department of Human Resources Commissioner to annually request a federal waiver from the USDA to exclude soda from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If granted, the waiver would prohibit SNAP recipients in Alabama from using benefits to purchase soda, defined as carbonated beverages with over 1 gram of added sugar or artificial sweeteners. The bill would take effect on October 1, 2025, and mandates continued waiver requests until approved. This directly affects SNAP participants in Alabama by potentially restricting their use of benefits for sugary drinks.