New SNAP Rules Ban Sugary Drinks and Candy

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formally called food stamps, helps low-income people buy groceries using EBT cards. Nationally, over 42 million people receive SNAP benefits; in Nevada, approximately 495,000 receive them. Under the Make America Healthy Again initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved rules prohibiting SNAP users in some states from buying sugary drinks and/or candy. To date, no restrictions apply to Nevada recipients.

Eligibility for SNAP has also changed. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, eligibility for SNAP is restricted primarily to U.S. citizens, lawful residents, and citizens of Compact of Free Association nations. While the core requirement of gross income below 130% of the federal poverty level remains unchanged, stricter work rules for able-bodied adults without dependents now apply up to age 64 (previously a lower age). These rules require 80 hours per month of work, training, or volunteering to receive benefits beyond three months in any three-year period, with exemptions for parents of children under 14, people with disabilities, and others.

The federal government funds 100% of SNAP benefits and 50% of administrative costs. Nevada covers the remaining 50%. Starting this year, the federal share of administrative costs drops to 25%. This raises Nevada’s share to 75% and adds about $25 million in recurring annual costs. Then, next year, states with payment error rates above 6% must cover 5% to 15% of benefit costs based on the excess. Nevada's payment error rate is currently low, around 7%, so no penalty applies yet.

Nationally, SNAP fraud is estimated to be around $3 billion annually, based on data from the Congressional Research Service and LexisNexis Risk Solutions' True Cost of Fraud Study: SNAP Report. Stricter SNAP eligibility rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act aim to reduce this fraud.