Alabama could prohibit people from buying candy or soda with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under legislation that passed a Senate committee on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 57 by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would require the Alabama Department of Human Resources to request a federal waiver to exclude sugary products from eligible purchases.
About 740,000 Alabamians receive SNAP benefits, often called food stamps. The benefits are federally funded.
In the Senate General Fund committee meeting Wednesday, Orr cited the state’s high obesity level and more than 1 million residents on Medicaid as reasons for bringing the bill.
“The taxpayer shouldn’t be funding sugar-type drinks (and other things) that are contributing to the statewide obesity levels,” Orr said. “Let’s rein in it.”
About 39% of Alabamians are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the USDA, 18 states have been granted the waivers “that are a key step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP.” Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee are on that list.
Items prohibited under Orr’s bill would include sodas that “list carbonated water and sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as the first two ingredients.” Not included are beverages that list aspartame or other low or non-caloric sweeteners as one of the first two ingredients.
Candy is defined as “foods that list sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient.” The term does not include any granulated sugar, raw sugar, or other single-ingredient sugars used for cooking and baking.
Democrats on the committee questioned the need for the bill.
Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, said it is paternalistic to assume people receiving SNAP benefits don’t know how to feed their children. She said other groups, including veterans, receive public benefits but aren’t included in this bill.
“Are we going to tell (veterans) they can’t drink a soft drink?” she said.
It would be up to the Alabama Department of Revenue to keep a list of prohibited products. Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, was the lone Republican to vote against the bill.
He asked if “the juice is worth the squeeze” to create more work for a state agency. There were also questions about impacts on retailers, especially small ones.
“To me, it seems cumbersome and burdensome, though I appreciate the intent,” Jones said.
Orr argued that less sugar could improve the health of Alabamians on Medicaid, which would save the state money.
Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, a retired physician, supported the bill. He said the biggest change he saw in his medical career was “the size of the patients.”
The bill is now ready for a Senate vote.