MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — The South Dakota Department of Social Services has submitted a federal waiver request that would exclude soft drinks from purchases made through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The department submitted the SNAP Food Restriction Demonstration Waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. The request stems from House Bill 1056, which was enacted during South Dakota’s 2026 legislative session and requires the state to seek federal approval for the restriction.
Under the proposal, soft drinks would no longer qualify for purchase with SNAP benefits. The state defines soft drinks as nonalcoholic beverages containing natural or artificial sweeteners.
DSS said the goal of the project is to reduce purchases of beverages with high sugar content.
If approved, the restriction would apply statewide to approximately 72,000 people in 36,500 households. All retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits in South Dakota would participate.
Implementation would begin six months after the federal government approves the waiver.
Additional information about the proposal is available through the South Dakota Department of Social Services by selecting the SNAP Food Restriction Waiver button.