A bill that would ban the purchase of soft drinks for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients advanced in the South Dakota Legislature on Tuesday.
The bill would remove soft drinks that contain natural or artificial sweeteners from the program, such as sports drinks, pop, and pedialyte.
If approved, the state department of social services would be required to submit a waiver request to exclude the beverages from SNAP benefits and implement the rule six months after.
Representative Taylor Rehfeldt, prime sponsor of the bill, said the state legislature can act now; by removing sweetened beverages, they can promote nutrition and prevent chronic illnesses.
Laura Ringling, an advisor to the governor, said they support SNAP reform, but based on conversations with other states that have implemented similar waivers, it would cost the state nearly half a million dollars annually.
Others expressed their concerns about how grocers and retailers would enforce the change and how it would impact their businesses.
The bill advances to the House floor after an 11-2 vote.
