Nevada officials said Tuesday they plan to ask the federal government to prohibit food stamp recipients from spending benefits on sugary drinks, energy drinks, and certain candies — part of a growing wave of state restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Division of Social Services confirmed at a meeting of the state’s Interim Committee on Health and Human Services that it is preparing two waiver requests: one to restrict purchases of sugar-laden items, and a second to allow recipients to buy hot prepared foods such as rotisserie chicken.
Nevada is pursuing the restrictions as the federal SNAP program undergoes sweeping changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which requires the state to shoulder more administrative costs and introduces new work requirements that put the eligibility of tens of thousands of Nevadans in doubt.
Nevada’s Division of Social Services is preparing to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bar food stamp recipients from spending benefit dollars on sugary drinks, energy drinks, and certain candies, state officials confirmed Tuesday at a meeting of the state’s Interim Committee on Health and Human Services.
The division is also planning a companion request that would allow recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, to purchase additional hot foods, including rotisserie chicken, under a separate USDA waiver. State officials said nothing in either proposal has been finalized.
A later timeline than other states
Nevada is asking that its sugary-drinks waiver take effect in 2028 — two years after similar restrictions granted to 18 other states in 2025 are set to begin. Almost all of those states have Republican governors.
Kelly Cantrelle, deputy administrator for the Division of Social Services, said the state has been meeting with retailers to discuss the proposals and would need funding to implement the changes.
“This is not an easy lift,” Cantrelle said. “We know that it’s going to take time.”
Robert Thompson, the administrator of the agency overseeing SNAP, said Nevada has considered a waiver restricting sugary-drink purchases since the administration of former Gov. Steve Sisolak. More recently, officials have also discussed extending the restriction to energy drinks and candies that are 100 percent sugar, such as gummy bears.
Federal backdrop: cost shifts and new work requirements
Nevada is pursuing the waivers as the federal SNAP program faces substantial changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump. The law requires Nevada to cover more of the program’s administrative costs and may require the state to pay for certain benefits directly. New work requirements in the law have put the eligibility of tens of thousands of Nevadans in doubt.
Divided reception at the legislature
The waiver plan drew a divided response from lawmakers at Tuesday’s interim committee meeting.
Sen. Fabian Doñate, D-Las Vegas, raised procedural concerns about the process. “The question is not whether we should restrict certain foods,” Doñate said. “I think the greater question is … the executive branch taking action … without legislative input in terms of restricting public benefits.”
Senate Minority Leader Robin Titus, R-Wellington, a physician, said she welcomed the direction. “It’s not unheard of that we’re actually trying to get people to buy into healthy lifestyles,” Titus said.