Alabama state leaders seek to remove candy, soda from eligible SNAP foods

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said he’s drafting a bill that would keep SNAP recipients from buying candy. He said it’s about the health of our state, but others largely disagree.

“And most SNAP recipients are on Medicaid,” said Sen. Orr. “Now, the taxpayers are paying for your healthcare, relating to what you’re eating. And, the taxpayers are paying for the candy that you’re putting in your mouth…”

Sen. Orr said that candy is fueling health problems for some Alabamians. He said that’s why the state should remove candy and soda from the list of items that can be bought using SNAP benefits. His bill would require the Department of Human Resources to sign a waiver with the federal government, making the ban official.

“To help them with their needed necessities, and foods — not a problem,” said Sen. Orr. “But, when you start saying, ‘you know, I want a bunch of soft drinks, and I want a bunch of candy and I want someone else to pay for it,’ that’s ridiculous.”

But, Alabama Arise said SNAP recipients already have stigmas around their own food insecurity. LaTrell Clifford Wood, hunger policy advocate, said some 750,000 Alabamians are in the program.

“Children and parents know a lot of the time and recognize, ‘okay, mommy has to pull out that blue card at the cash register’… the concern here, is that we’re over-policing people because of their income,” said Wood.

Wood explained the very lack of food access can cause the same health problems.

“If we have concerns about the sugar content in our food, those concerns should be for everyone. And, they should not be based on somebody’s income level… because they are not the only ones that get diabetes, that are obese,” she said.

The bill has not been filed yet for the 2026 legislative session. But, Sen. Orr said some of his colleagues have reached out in support of the effort.