SB 1833 Oklahoma Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; directing the Department of Human Services to seek certain federal waiver. Effective date.

SB 1833 directs Oklahoma's Department of Human Services to seek a federal waiver preventing SNAP (food stamp) benefits from being used to purchase candy and soft drinks, and to potentially exclude other "nonnutritive" foods. The department must submit a waiver request to the USDA with public health justification, an implementation plan for retail point-of-sale systems, and an education strategy for recipients. If approved, the restrictions would take effect within six months, requiring annual reports to state leaders on SNAP spending patterns and program impacts. This bill directly affects SNAP recipients in Oklahoma by changing eligible purchases and requires federal approval for implementation.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed May 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to remove the House's original text and replace it with a Senate version that shifts the primary action from a direct prohibition on SNAP purchases to a request for a federal waiver. This change makes the ban on candy and soft drinks conditional on federal approval rather than immediate state law, and it adds specific requirements for justifying the waiver and reporting on its impact.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from an immediate state mandate to a conditional federal waiver request, meaning the policy only applies if the USDA approves it.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced a direct prohibition on SNAP purchases with a requirement for the Department to seek a federal waiver to implement such a ban.

Added specific requirements for the waiver request, including justifications for public health, statutory intent, and cost savings, plus an implementation plan and education strategy.

Added a requirement for an annual report to the Governor and legislature tracking spending patterns, challenges, and recommendations.

TIMELINE

Changed the implementation deadline from an immediate prohibition to a six-month window after federal authorization is received.

TECHNICAL

Removed the House co-authors' names and updated the committee report date and status.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2026 · House Apr 29, 2026

How they voted

40–6

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 50

Mar 23, 2026

D Democratic9

1 Yea 6 Nay 2

66% Nay

R Republican41

39 Yea 2

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor 05/01/2026

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Referred for enrollment

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 62 Nays: 17

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

CR; Do Pass Health and Human Services Oversight Committee

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Policy recommendation to the Health and Human Services Oversight committee; Do Pass Public Health

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to Public Health

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Introduced

First Reading

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Engrossed to House

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred for engrossment

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Measure passed: Ayes: 38 Nays: 6

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass Health and Human Services committee; CR filed

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

First Reading

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors