| DATE: | May 19, 2025 |
| SUBJECT: | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – SNAP Restriction Waiver |
| TO: | Governor Pillen |
Dear Governor Pillen:
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to approve the request dated April 14, 2025, from the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to allow the State to operate a novel demonstration
project to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) recipients from "any food or food product for home consumption" to exclude soda,
"soft drinks," and energy drinks. This approval, subject to the enclosed terms and conditions, is for 2
years, effective January 1, 2026.
Due to the novel design of the Project, FNS is committed to carefully and comprehensively evaluating
how waiving the State's definition of food in this way impacts SNAP participants and retailers. FNS will
carefully review the results of the Project, based on the evaluation data provided by the State and other
available information.
FNS will continue to collaborate with the State, and its evaluation contractor to finalize data collection
points, define key metrics, and outline any necessary data analysis for the quarterly evaluation reports, as
well as finalize key implementation parameters such as a threshold standard for retailers.
Please submit written acceptance of this approval and the terms and conditions signed by the appropriate
State official. Attach this acceptance letter to a chatter post in WIMS case# 00012 I 20. Please tag the
relevant Regional and National staff listed in the WIMS case team using the@ sign when uploading this
document.
FNS appreciates the State's willingness to test innovative approaches to support healthy choices, and
healthy outcomes to best serve SNAP participants. FNS is committed to working with the State to obtain
robust data to inform ways to improve nutrition assistance programs.
Brooke L. Rollins
Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Enclosures