Back in March, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) signed a waiver that would limit the state of Iowa’s SNAP benefits. That waiver was swiftly approved by the USDA, and would allow lawmakers to approve SNAP purchases within a list of foods that are none-taxable under state law.
Now, that waiver is set to go into effect in 2026. Iowa is one of 18 states that will ban the use of SNAP benefits to buy certain sugary foods and drinks.
States Limiting SNAP Benefits in 2026:
In addition to Iowa, 17 states are prohibiting the use of SNAP benefits for a handful of new items, per WKYT:
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Louisiana
- Colorado
- Florida
- West Virginia
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Nebraska
- Utah
- Hawaii
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Tennessee
The restrictions will impact roughly 14 million people across those 18 states.
What Items Will Be Restricted from SNAP in These States?:
…